New Zealand stayer Mongolian Khan has fended off the northern hemisphere challenge to win the Caulfield Cup.
In a favourite’s Cup, Mongolian Khan was given a perfect ride from Opie Bosson before holding the late charge from English stayer Trip To Paris.
Mongolian Khan – Caulfield Cup
Import Our Ivanhowe took the minor placing after making his run with the winner.
Bosson settled Mongolian Khan in the first half of the field and he set the four-year-old alight at the 800m in a move trainer Murray Baker said was a deliberate tactic.
Mongolian Khan joined the leaders on the turn, pinched a break on Our Ivanhowe before it was left to Trip To Paris to run on along the inside to finish second.
“The plan was to go early and make it a stayer’s race in the straight,” Baker said.
Bosson carried out the instructions to the letter, adding the world’s richest 2400m handicap race to his wins on Mongolian Khan in the New Zealand Derby and the ATC Australian Derby.
“He has taken me to my biggest heights in racing and this is my biggest thrill,” Bosson said.
The ATC Australian Oaks winner Gust Of Wind finished fourth with Japan’s Fame Game coming from a long way back to turn in an eye-catching Melbourne Cup trial.
