Dusty Star wins 2011 D'Urban Stakes
It was a career-best win for General Nediym gelding Dusty Star who maintained a blistering speed throughout to win the D’Urban Stakes in an outstanding time of 1:25.5.
In-form hoop Craig Williams, who scored victory earlier in Caulfield Race 2 aboard Lord Pyrus, produced another beautiful ride.
Dusty Star got away well from barrier five and hit the front to take an easy early lead ahead of the John Thompson-trained Run For Levi.
The eventual winner just flew along and held a four length lead mid-way through the 1400m gallop, still ahead by two on the turn.
Race favourite Under The Eiffel was under enormous pressure after missing the jump by a length and then losing it around the turn.
Showing their class, Under The Eiffel eventually moved up on the far outside and ran a courageous second behind all-the-way winner Dusty Star.
In a photo finish for third the Robert Smerdon-trained Eclair Mystic finished off the Trifecta, the last start Zeditave Stakes’ winner far from disgraced today.
Purchased for $220,000 at the Magic Millions sales, Dusty Star has now won four of his 13 career starts today’s prize money boosting his total career earnings to around $218,000.
The 2011 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 5 is the main autumn aim for Dusty Star, connections including trainer Peter Morgan confident they have the mile in them.
The next race on the Caulfield race card this afternoon is the first of the Blue Diamond Preludes when the colts and geldings face off at 2:35pm (AEDST).
Can hot favourite Sepoy maintain his unbeaten record? We think so and to back them at the best odds head to Luxbet now!
2011 D’Urban Stakes Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | DUSTY STAR(5) | Craig Williams | Peter Morgan | 55.5 | 1-22.50 |
| 2nd | 7 | UNDER THE EIFFEL(1) | Jamie Mott | Tony Vasil | 55.5 | 1.0L |
| 3rd | 4 | ECLAIR MYSTIC(9) | Chris Symons | Robert Smerdon | 57.0 | 1.2L |
| 4th | 8 | ROADTRAIN(2) | Damien Oliver | Tony Vasil | 55.5 | 1.3L |
| 5th | 2 | ECLAIR SURPRISE(6) | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody | 57.5 | 1.4L |
| 6th | 6 | SERVANT(3) | Ben Melham | Peter G Moody | 55.5 | 1.6L |
| 7th | 1 | HOLLOWLEA(11) | Nicholas Hall | Terry & Karina O’Sullivan | 58.0 | 2.6L |
| 8th | 3 | RUN FOR LEVI(8) | Craig Newitt | John P Thompson | 57.0 | 4.1L |
| 9th | 11 | I THINK I DO(4) | Corey Brown | Bart Cummings | 55.5 | 6.1L |
| 10th | 9 | GILDED SPUR(7) | Glen Boss | Anthony Cummings | 55.5 | 8.4L |
| 11th | 10 | KERCHINGS(10) | Danny Nikolic | Anthony Cummings | 55.5 | 28.4L |
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography
