Ciaron Maher lands big payday with $5m Caulfield Cup win

The ever-increasing juggernaut that is the Ciaron Maher stable capped its biggest payday when Duke De Sessa scored a memorable win in the Caulfield Cup.

An hour before Duke De Sessa claimed the Caulfield Cup, the Maher stable welcomed Bella Nipotina home victorious in the world’s richest race, The Everest at Randwick.

They were however, denied an even bigger payday when stable star Pride Of Jenni had her colours lowered in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.

While it was still a massive payday for the Maher stable, the day at Caulfield belonged to Harry Coffey who celebrated his 29th birthday with a perfect ride on Duke De Sessa ($11) who held off the heavily backed $3.80 betting site favourite Buckaroo by 1-½ lengths with Land Legend ($8.50) a further five lengths away third.

Coffey has had to do it tough throughout his career, but at the same time has made the most of little opportunities that come his way.

He suffers from cystic fibrosis which affects his breathing, but on Saturday he was going as strong at the finish as he was when legged aboard Duke De Sessa.

“One of the things that’s not great for a jockey is being short of breath and with a digestive problem, but I still get support from the big stables,” Coffey said.

“Ciaron hasn’t shied away from that, he’s a massive supporter of mine.

“When Dave (Eustace) went to Hong Kong I got worried because Dave and I were pretty good buds, but Ciaron always throws me a bone, and today there was plenty of meat on it.

“I was fortunate enough to pick up this ride with Declan Bates up in Sydney riding the good mare (Pride Of Jenni).

“I often wish I could have a ride on her, but I’m glad Dec’s up there and I got to ride Duke today.”

Coffey held off two of Hong Kong’s greats from the past decade, Joao Moreira on Buckaroo and Zac Purton on Land Legend, and joked that maybe Eustace may need him up in Hong Kong now.

He said returning to the winner’s enclosure was overwhelming with all the well-wishers.

“I was good when I was out on the horse and by myself, but now, it’s overwhelming,” Coffey said.

“Everyone is all over you and so happy and to be fair I understand it as you work your whole life to have moments like this.

“But you almost feel a little bit guilty because it’s all about you, but really, it’s the horse, the staff, the trainer, they do all the work and you just turn up, give a 10-out-of-10 ride and get the job done.”

Jack Turnbull, Maher’s assistant trainer, said it was magic to have had the day they produced.

Seconds after Duke De Sessa had crossed the line, giving Maher his second Caulfield Cup success after the victory of Jameka in 2016, Turnbull was on the phone to Maher at Randwick.

“It’s magic to be honest, just fantastic to get on the phone with him (Ciaron), especially after Bella and with Pride Of Jenni walking into the yard as well,” Turnbull said.

“This is a just pinch me moment with the stable having an extremely good day.”

Duke De Sessa ran ninth in last year’s Caulfield Cup and the decision was made to geld the now six-year-old.

The stable commenced Duke De Sessa’s campaign in July and the gelding was well-seasoned by the time Saturday’s 2400m contest came around.

“Last season, he was a colt, and he had a good think about things, and he used to over-travel,” Turnbull said.

“For this race in particular, we changed the bit, put a norton on. He obviously had 12 months of seasoning and conditioning, and Ciaron and the team just had a better handle on him.

“I thought we were going to make all, so I was okay, but when Deny Knowledge came around us, he just got a lovely drop, and they weren’t’ going fast, and he loves this ground.

“When they upped the ante at the right time, he was able to build into it, and it just got everyone chasing, and when he put, two or three lengths on them at the top of the straight, you knew he was going to sustain that, especially the way the track is playing.

“It’s just unbelievable. I cannot, even think this is happening.

“I’m speechless.”