Edward Cummings and jockey Joshua Parr combined at Flemington on Super Saturday with quality mare Duais to dominate the 2022 Australian Cup results in a two-length upset over the beaten favourite Think It Over.

Duais was excellent late winning the 2022 Australian Cup third-up at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The classy four-year-old daughter of Shamus Award was strong late in the Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) presenting fit third-up and relishing the step-up in distance for the 160^th edition of the time-honoured feature.

She won third-up over the 2000m last campaign in Caulfield’s Coongy Handicap and repeated the feat in a better-quality race today, atoning for her luckless sixth in Sydney’s Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) when caught on the rails on a Heavy (10) last time out.

A trip south for the Australian Cup was always the plan with the former Queensland Oaks winner who Parr had parked in the perfect position on the outside throughout.

She made the widest run turning for home, but her hoop rode the mare like the outstanding stayer she is, and Duais was too good reeling in the front-running Spanish Mission.

“I’m elated,” Parr said after the victory.

“I’m struggling for words which isn’t too common with me.

“What a thrill to ride a Group 1 winner at Flemington from near the back of the field, the Australian Cup, I’m over the moon.

“I was full of confidence. With a pinch of luck, we would have won the Chipping Norton and that was evident by her final furlong.

“So confident when I saw her today. Edward assured me in great shape and she certainly was. Once I got aboard, she was so relaxed.”

Beaten favourite off a strange run was the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over ($3.10), the horse looking gone at the top of the straight having travelled well sixth off the pace, before coming back down the middle to finish second.

It was a patient and trusting ride from Parr and Duais ($7) rewarded him, racing away by a big margin on the line with plenty left in the tank ahead of another likely Group 1 target over the coming weeks.

“We always wanted to be here,” Cummings, whose late grandfather Bart won an incredible 13 Australian Cup trophies during his illustrious career, said.

“It was always part of the plan. We knew we’d done something similar last preparation…we always felt that getting her to Flemington would suit her down to the ground third-up at 2000m she’d done it before.”

Last year’s Melbourne Cup third place-getter Spanish Mission ($3.70), now with Peter Moody, lost few admirers holding for third having worked hard to sit in front throughout in a genuinely run race.

Also eye-catching getting up into fourth was recent Hobart Cup winner Ho Ho Khan ($61) at a big price backing up from his last start second in the Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) in Tasmanian.

A return to Sydney during ‘The Championships’ on April 9 at Randwick for a shot at the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) over the two miles could now be on the agenda for the Australian Cup winner Duais.

The latest all-in 2022 Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the dual Group 1 winner at $15 to win and are available in full here.

She is also into $6 for a potential rematch with Spanish Mission Verry Elleegant at Rosehill on March 26^th in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), full markets available here.

2022 Australian Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.