Baughurst wins Caulfield Cup consolation

A missed opportunity in the Caulfield Cup turned into a success story for the connections of Baughurst who won the Group Three David Jones Cup on Saturday.

The eight-year-old failed to get a run as the first emergency in Saturday's big race but all was not lost as he powered away to win the 2000m support event for the second year in a row.

Jockey Ben Melham gave Baughurst the perfect run just off the pace and presented him with a winning burst halfway up the home straight to win by 1-1/4 lengths from Caulfield Cup second emergency Shocking, with Pacino a long neck away third.

"He is a tremendous horse and has given us such a great ride over six or seven years," said Symon Wilde who co-trains Baughurst with his father Bill.

"He's done a great job and it makes you think what he would have done with 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup."

Melham said Baughurst was a tough horse who never gave up.

"I was able to get off Pacino's back at exactly the right time," Melham said.

"Shocking came at me but once he (Baughurst) gets to the business end he finds another gear and he was really strong to the line."

In the last month Baughurst has run into form and was beaten just 1-1/2 lengths when sixth to Efficient in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and less than two lengths when fifth to Whobegotyou in the Yalumba Stakes (2000m).

"His last two runs were bottlers and had he had an ounce of luck he might have been placed in two Group Ones behind some of the best," Wilde said.

Remarkably Baughurst has raced on the last three Saturdays with his only training being done on the beach at Warrnambool to manage his joint issues.

"He has got a lot of problems and we are lucky we have the beach," Wilde said.

Baughurst has won 10 of his 45 starts and will have his next start in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

"He deserves a crack at it," Wilde said.