Best Solution Digs Deep in Caulfield Cup

The record books will state Godolphin's Best Solution was victorious in the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (G1), but really it was jockey Pat Cosgrave who won the race.

From a horror draw of 15, and with instructions to race prominently, his task was made all but impossible Oct. 20 when his mount missed the break and was last out of the stalls, leaving the pair trapped five wide around the sharp first turn.

All hope looked lost, but as the field slowed up the Caulfield climb, Cosgrave made up ground on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained 4-year-old, got tucked in fourth—one off the rail—and then put on the hand brake.

From there, he babysat his mount into the race before kicking early and stealing not just first run but first prize in the AU$5 million group 1. It was a thing of beauty on a partner who was equal parts willing and class.

Homesman and The Cliffsofmoher (Cliffs of Moher) came charging late, but it was just too late. They closed to a short head and 1 3/4 lengths in what will go down as one of the classic Cup finishes. Another Brit, Duretto—whose jockey, Dwayne Dunn, was bedecked in Union Jack-themed silks—was a further length back in fourth for trainer Andrew Balding.

An effervescent Cosgrave said: "He completely missed the gate, but Saeed was adamant he had to be in the first four or five, and he was right. I had to work really hard to get there.

"At the furlong pole, I thought I might have gone too soon, but he toughed it out. He's a tough horse. He stays well and knows how to win. He doesn't like getting beaten."

After the first bend, Cosgrave did not think he would win aboard the Kodiac runner.

"I was surprised I won just because of the work I had to do early on. Everything went wrong from the word go, but good horses know how to win," he said.

"He likes when horses come to him, he fights hard; it's all credit to the horse and the team. I shouldn't take any plaudits."

It was Cosgrave's second group 1 win in three rides at Caulfield after partnering Benbatl last week, and he quipped: "I've been worse places."

Sporting possibly the world's biggest grin, he added: "There's nothing wrong with coming halfway across the world and winning a five-million-dollar race."

It was not just Cosgrave and bin Suroor on cloud nine. The O'Brien camp were also delighted with the run of The Cliffsofmoher—or Cliffs Of Moher, to give him his proper name, which had to be tweaked for the purposes of him running in Australia.

Jockey Hugh Bowman said: "We're really pleased with him. The race was run at an awfully slow pace, which didn't suit us, but I still got a nice run through, and he produced when I wanted him to."

Anna Lisa Balding, wife of Duretto's trainer, Andrew, said: "I'm thrilled. It's all guns blazing for the Melbourne Cup now.

"Our jockey gave him the most exceptional ride, and when they came round the bend, I thought, 'Here we go' because he's got a gear, but they crawled and it turned into a massive sprint. He needs a bit further, so I think it was a great prep run."

There was the slightest of sour notes for Cosgrave, who had picked up the spare ride for Aidan O'Brien on Fleet Review in the Oct. 26 Manikato Stakes (G1) but will have to miss it after incurring an 11-meeting careless riding ban.

He will be back for the ride on Best Solution in the Nov. 6 Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1), for which he is now a best-priced 12-1 with British and Irish bookmakers. Handicapper Greg Carpenter could reassess him and administer a penalty for this performance, with a decision likely Monday.