BEST SOLUTION CLAIMS DRAMATIC WIN IN THE STELLA ARTOIS CAULFIELD CUP

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor won his second Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) and in-form jockey Pat Cosgrave his first after the two combined with Best Solution, who has now won three successive Group 1 races. After a thrilling battle down the straight with Homesman, owned by five-time Melbourne Cup winner Lloyd Williams, Best Solution, carrying the top weight of 57.5 kg – dug deep in the closing stages to claim the $3 million first prize. Cosgrave now has two Group 1 wins from just two rides at Caulfield, having won last week’s Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000 m) on another bin Suroor-trained galloper, Benbatl.
The Northern Irishman was at his brilliant best, breaking from barrier 17 and settling close to the speed, before kicking clear on the home turn and holding off the fast-finishing Homesman by a neck. On another great day for the international raiders, Cliffsofmoher finished third for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Hugh Bowman, with Andrew Balding’s Duretto coming fourth under Dwayne Dunn. His victory saw Best Solution’s price for the Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 m) cut to $9, and he is now second favourite for the race His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum covets above all others.  
“I’ve got to give all credit to the horse,” Cosgrave said, “I had a bad draw, jumped slowly and had to commit earlier than I should have. He was there to be beaten, but he’s so tough and genuine. I think anything is possible after today.”
Bin Suroor now has two Caulfield Cups following the success ten years ago of All The Good.
The trainer, who has won eight Group 1’s across the world this year, paid tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for targeting the Caulfield Cup with Best Solution. “It was his decision to send this horse to Australia, and it’s great to see Best Solution win the Caulfield Cup after winning two Group 1 races in Germany earlier this year,” he said. Bin Suroor has finished runner-up in the Melbourne Cup three times, and confirmed Best Solution would be bidding to end the drought on Tuesday, 6 November. “The Melbourne Cup is a very big race for us. It would be a dream to win it, and we will try,” he added.