DURSTON (GB)

Chris Waller

8YO

About

Horses like Durston are invariably hard to secure, and even harder to find, so when Newmarket based David Simcock called Harry Herbert we wasted no time in securing this stunning son of Sea the Moon. Purchased by David as a yearling, Durston had run twice, finishing third first time out in Bath before finishing second at Nottingham to the very highly rated Surfman.

Durston made a very encouraging start to his 3yo season when finishing fourth in a maiden at Windsor, a performance that delighted his trainer, and then went on to win impressively in what was a highly competitive Handicap over the St Leger distance at Doncaster. Another success followed a fortnight later at Chester where he took on a competitive field in a Class 2 Handicap over a mile and a half and came home very strongly to win with plenty in hand. He clearly relished the softer conditions and settled really well early on before showing a very good turn of foot when asked to improve his position.

Perhaps, though, the highlight of his season came in defeat when he was a thrilling second, beaten only a neck, in an extremely valuable and competitive handicap at the Glorious Goodwood Festival. Durston improved again to finish third in the Geoffrey Freer (Group 3) at Newbury on his final outing of the season, tiring on very soft ground inside the final furlong.

David Simcock feels that Durston could improve a good deal again as a 4yo.