Jockey Dean Yendall says winning aboard Cru Classe in a distance race at Caulfield was one of the ugliest staying races he has been involves in.

Cru Classe prevailed in the Ciaron Maher Racing Premiership Handicap on Saturday in a tooth and nail fight up the Caulfield straight.

Under Yendall’s urgings, Cru Classe ($7) scored a short-half-head win from Dubai Moon ($31) with the leader Bow Thruster ($101) holding on for third, a further 1-¼ lengths away.

“It was the worst run I ever would’ve imagined for a 2400-metre race, they just walked,” Yendall said.

“Even at the half-mile they got slower again but she travelled lovely the whole way throughout.

“I had the right run for that sort of run race and I was able to bring her to the outside and ask for effort and she got the job done.”

Trainer Patrick Payne got extra satisfaction out of the victory, providing the former champion jockey his 18th metropolitan winner and 70th overall for the season.

“That is a huge thrill for me,” Payne said.

“My sons, Jordan and Lachlan are in the horse, it’s the second horse they’ve owned, and Josh Xipell, a champion fella who is not in the best of health at the moment, but has been with me since I started.

“He had Field Master with me when I first started training and they’re his colours and along with Jack Clapham who sent her over from New Zealand.

“Everyone is high-fiving each other.”

Payne is unsure how far Cru Classe will progress, describing her as a “really skinny little thing”.

“But she is tough and can stay,” Payne said.

“Dean Yendall rode her great. On the corner I thought she was half-a-chance, half-way down the straight I wasn’t sure and even right on the line I wasn’t sure, but anyway she got the job done.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au