Dunaden wins Caulfield Cup

LAST year's Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden (Mikel Delzangles/Craig Williams) flew home from miles back to claim the BMW Caulfield Cup for France.

Australian-trained pair Alcopop and Lights Of Heaven took second and third from Americain and the Luca Cumani-trained My Quest For Peace.

Dunaden, who also won the Geelong Cup in 2011, was taking his record in Australia to three out of three for Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock as he overcame the widest draw in a 18-runner field.

Craig Williams dropped him in last of all from the gate and the six-year-old still had just two behind him as they left the final turn before being switched out wide and taking the race with a tremendous charge down the straight to overwhelm Alcopop.

"Wow - this is a remarkable horse," said Williams, who could not ride Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup owing to suspension, leaving Christophe Lemaire to take over.

Dunaden, the third European-trained winner of the Caulfield Cup after Taufan's Melody (1998) and All The Good (2008), can now expect a penalty before defending his Melbourne Cup - for which he is now favourite in Australian lists.

"He's had a heard race here with a big weight so I hope he doesn't get too much weight for the Melbourne Cup," said Williams.

"He's an amazing horse and we seem to have a great connection," added the jockey, in the saddle when Dunaden won in Geelong and Hong Kong, and also when he was sixth behind Danedream in the King George.

Alcopop, who hit the front a furlong out, was clear second from Lights Of Heaven with 2010 Melbourne Cup hero Americain, who shared top-weight with the winnerm, staying on for fourth in promising fashion.

My Quest For Peace (who raced as just Quest For Peace in Britain) also showed up pretty well, though he had the run of the race on the rail just off the pace set by heavily fancied Glencadam Gold.

Although the Cumani runner briefly showed in front as they entered the straight, he was swamped by the principals, while the Marco Botti-trained Jakkalberry was caught wide throughout before fading to finish 13th.

closing stages