Outstanding Irish-bred stayers Without A Fight and West Wind Blows slugged out a titanic finish to quinella the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday, 21 October – continuing some superb worldwide results in recent weeks for their Darley sire Teofilo.
Without A Fight (Mark Zahra) scored by a head from the Jamie Spencer-ridden West Wind Blows, with reigning Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip another two lengths away in third place.
A dual winner during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, Without A Fight travelled kindly in midfield until the home turn before producing a powerful sprint to stop the clock at 2mins 26.45secs – only a second outside Daitribe’s course record set 23 years ago.
The six-year-old gelding, out of the Dubawi mare Khor Sheed, has now won 10 races from 22 starts for prize money earnings of A$4.41 million. Six of his wins have been at Stakes level.
Co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman will wait to see how Without A Fight pulls up before a decision is made on tackling the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on 7 November.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows, out of West Wind, was gallant in defeat and looks certain to take his place in the Melbourne Cup for a possible rematch with his conqueror.
Just this month, Teofilo has sired Nations Pride to win the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, Eternal Hope to salute in the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes, and Alessio to win the G3 Land Trophy at Baden-Baden.
