Chris Waller continued an amazing few days at Caulfield, claiming the showpiece, the Caulfield Cup (2400m) via Durston, who came with a brilliant finale to overhaul his rivals.
Read on for the 2022 The Everest Post Race Horse Ratings.
2022 Caulfield Cup Replay
2022 The Everest Post Race Horse Ratings
1. Durston: The improving track ensured he came right into the race. That, a soft ride, smothered and saved for the final 400m ensured that customary turn of foot he has shown came to the fore and what a finale it was to win.
Rating: 9/10
2. Gold Trip: He couldn’t have been ridden any better by Mark Zahra. Presented at the top of the straight and looked the winner, but just couldn’t quite see it out and was nabbed on the peg by Durston.
Rating: 8.5/10
3. Knights Order: Just got left flat footed when the sprint went on but he kept finding under pressure and was so game in defeat, finishing third. He’s right on track for the Melbourne Cup.
Rating: 8/10
4. Montefilia: Gee I think you can make a case to say that with clear air, she wins. Copped a very nasty check early in the straight but picked up and surged hard the final 100m or so for a close up fourth. From a Melbourne Cup perspective, I think she’s one of a couple I could entertain big time.
Rating: 8.5/10
5. Numerian: Game, game, game. On speed throughout near Knights Order and loomed to go on with it, but the last 100m or so, he just floundered late, confirming the 2400m query leading in.
Rating: 7.5/10
6. Vow And Declare: He is flying this boy. Just lacked the change up speed to go with them when they sprinted but he stayed on for a sixth spot, securing his spot in the Melbourne Cup. Give him a dry track on the first Tuesday in November, a win wouldn’t shock.
Rating: 7/10
7. Smokin Romans: He originally got into a lovely spot. It ended up being a horrible spot because they came around down the side, Jamie Kah got stuck behind them and just had no chance to build the revs or any momentum. I’d be forgiving, albeit he has only just beaten Nonconformist, who was wide no cover.
Rating: 5.5/10
8. Duais: Her sole goal has been the Melbourne Cup and this run tells me she’s on track still. Was working to the line late and is crying out of a horse wanting 3200m. Don’t drop off her.
Rarting: 6/10
9. Sound: He is a beauty this guy. He has been racing forever it seems like, he’s not quite up to the top level but doesn’t disgrace himself and that was the case again here. Worked home well without threatening.
Rating: 5/10
10. Nonconformist: This run was gallant. Wide no cover for the trip and he looked to be trucking on the turn, but he couldn’t quite finish it off and weakened late. Brave effort given the run.
Rating: 5/10
11. Inspirational Girl: Was met with good support late in the piece, which somewhat surprised me given she was gate one on a track where the inside was no good. She had a suck run and tried hard, but couldn’t finish it off and was just plain late.
Rating: 3/10
12. Chapada: He was okay from off the speed. Like he has been in recent years. Not good enough to win at this level, but is around the mark and is honest, which was the case here.
Rating: 3/10
13. Tralee Rose: I thought she would run last given how poor the set up was, but Symon Wilde made a mug of me and most, because she ran a very honest race and you’d think has loads of improvement to come. Not a Melbourne Cup horse, I’d say more a race like the Bendigo Cup, that level.
Rating: 4/10
14. Crystal Pegasus: He gave a sneaky little sight nearer the inside, but the only way he was going to threaten was if he saved ground, which he did, but it wasn’t the spot to be. But, he did improve on what I thought he would pre race.
Rating: 3/10
15. Alegron: Just lost sight of the bunny at a crucial stage, back last on the turn, and was never a factor. Totally forgiving of the run and I’d wait to see him back at Flemington.
Rarting: 2/10
16. Benaud: His lone win to date is a Nowra maiden and that is probably all he will win. Yes, the wide gate was not ideal, but I still expected much more from him.
Rating: 1/10
17. Great House: Prebble rode him with intent early and had him in the first few but it backfired. He was a beaten horse on the turn and dropped right out.
Rating: 1/10
18. No Compromise: Froggy made the move down the side to inject some pace in the race but he was beaten on the turn and had his Grand Final in The Metropolitan.
Rating: 1/10
