A daring ride by James Winks helped him land his first Group One win in Melbourne aboard his favourite horse Douro Valley in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield.

Winks let the seven-year-old settle off race leader Casual Pass in the early stages but at the 1000m let him stride to a clear lead which proved be a winning move in the 2000m weight-for-age feature.

"It was a terrific ride, it was a ballsy move to go around Casual Pass at the 1000 metres and put the pressure on," trainer Danny O'Brien said.

"But coming to the corner they were all off the bridle chasing him.

"We were happy to lead as James knows this horse can run a strong last five furlongs (1000m) whereas if they sprint home over three (600m) they'll get him off the bridle.

"This horse will run a strong 2400 metres next week in the Caulfield Cup. It's all good."

Douro Valley, the outsider of the field at $41, held on gamely to score by a neck from Pompeii Ruler (2.40 fav) with Guillotine ($6) a short half-head away third.

Winks' career took a turn for the better when he linked up with the O'Brien stable last year and rode the Encosta De Lago gelding into second place in the Caulfield Cup behind stablemate Master O'Reilly.

He combined with O'Brien to land his first Group One success aboard Absolut Glam in the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm in June.

But he retains a soft spot for Douro Valley.

"He's been a great horse to me and for my career," he said.

"The owners have stuck with me and I can't thank them enough."

Despite Damien Oliver doing a lot of riding for the O'Brien stable of late, the trainer said Winks had continued to turn up for trackwork at Flemington every morning.

"There has never been a mortgage on the rides," he said.

"We use James, Steve Arnold and Damien has been doing a bit of riding for us too."

O'Brien is confident about his Caulfield Cup chances next week with Master O'Reilly, who was runner-up to Littorio in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last Saturday, and Douro Valley.

"They've come through the proper races this year knowing they are both going to get starts," he said.

"Whereas last year they had to win a lead-up race (Douro the Naturalism Stakes and Master O'Reilly the Winning Edge Presentations Stakes) to get into the field.

"It would be nice to run one-two again."

Saturday's field was reduced to just seven runners when the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed was scratched at the barrier.

The Brisbane Cup runner reared and got a front leg stuck up on the stalls.

He was pulled out of the gates by barrier attendants and inspected by veterinary surgeons who decided he was not fit to start.

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拿高取第13個一級賽冠軍

Encosta De Lago had three runners in today's Group 1 Yalumba Stakes, but it was the outsider of the trio that gave Australia's reigning Champion Sire his latest Group 1 victory.

Douro Valley became Group 1 winner number 13 for the Fairy King stallion when withstanding all challengers in the straight after making a mid race move to take the lead.

Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Douro Valley. He beat Maldivian to win last year's Listed Naturalism Stakes and then later that campaign gave trainer Danny O'Brien the quinella when running second to stablemate Master O'Reilly in the Caulfield Cup.

He is from the Lord Seymour mare Opaque, a winner at 1100m, and is a half-brother to Listed winner Stellamac (Mull Of Kintyre) and his earnings topped the $1million mark thanks to today's win.

Douro Valley was considered a third stringer for Encosta De Lago, who also had the more fancied Sirmione and Largo Lad engaged, but it was the $41 chance that triumphed.

It is the second knockout Group 1 result for Encosta De Lago progeny in as many weeks, following the long priced win of Newport in last week's Metropolitan at Randwick.

Encosta De Lago also had Princess Coup win the G1 Kelt Capital Stakes in New Zealand last Saturday, so it has been quite a week for the Coolmore based stallion.