Kerrin McEvoy savours second Melbourne Cup victory after mighty win by Almandin
KERRIN McEvoy left Flemington last year wishing he could experience that Melbourne Cup-winning feeling again. The SA-born jockey made good on his vow, riding Almandin to a thrilling victory.
KERRIN McEvoy left Flemington last year wishing he could experience that Melbourne Cup-winning feeling again.
He had just watched his sister-in-law Michelle Payne’s historic Cup triumph on Prince Of Penzance and conceded he desperately wanted to win the race that stops the nation again.
“I was so happy for Michelle but her win did get the fires burning inside me again,’’ McEvoy said. “You leave the course wanting to be a part of it again.
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“I was blessed to win one Melbourne Cup, let alone two — so I can’t really describe the sensation, it is incredible.’’
The champion jockey - born in Streaky Bay, made good on his vow to win the nation’s greatest race again with an inspired ride on Almandin on Tuesday to keep the Melbourne Cup in the family — in more ways than one.
McEvoy’s wife, Cathy, is heavily pregnant with the couple’s fourth child and the jockey admitted it has been difficult at times to focus on his riding during the spring carnival.
“Cathy has borne the brunt of everything back home in Sydney as I have been riding in Melbourne,’’ McEvoy said. “It has been difficult because of course you worry about how Cathy is coping, and how the three kids are coping.
“But she has been a star to do what she does everyday for our family, it is credit to her.
“Cathy is booked in to be induced on Monday so I will be there by her side.
“I’m so pleased to be able to win another Melbourne Cup for her and the kids.’’
McEvoy, 36, has been dominating the feature staying races in Godolphin’s royal blue this spring winning the Geelong Cup on Qewy, Bendigo Cup with Francis of Assisi, the Lexus Stakes with the exciting Oceanographer and a Caulfield Cup second placing with Scottish.
But McEvoy was wearing the navy blue of owner Lloyd Williams when he rode Almandin to a narrow win over the Joao Moriera-ridden Heartbreak City in the Melbourne Cup.
There was a moment of respect between the two jockeys just a few strides after the line when Moriera patted McEvoy on the back a number of times.
“It was a nice gesture by Joao, I appreciated that,’’ McEvoy said. “We had a ding-dong battle, my horse and Joao’s, and it was pretty close on the line but the best horse won.’’
It was Williams who approached McEvoy about a month ago to ride Almandin as the jockey would have no trouble making the stayer’s 52kg handicap for the race.
McEvoy rode his first feature winner for the owner on Keeper in the 2001 Victoria Handicap.
But the McEvoy-Williams combination had to wait 15 years for their first Group 1 wins together — and they have made up for lost time.
McEvoy won on the Williams-owned The United States (Ranvet Stakes) and Gallante (Sydney Cup) during the Sydney autumn carnival and now they can celebrate a Melbourne Cup triumph.
“I’ve got to thank Lloyd for having the faith in me to ride this horse,’’ McEvoy said. “He was trained to the minute and it gives a jockey a lot of confidence when you ride Lloyd’s horses because you know they are well prepared.’’
McEvoy is older and wiser than he was when he won the Cup on Brew in 2000 and admitted he gained more appreciation and satisfaction from his win on Almandin on Tuesday.
“I was so young when I won on Brew, I didn’t really know what was happening that day,’’ he said. “It is a different euphoria this time, I can understand more the enormity of winning a Melbourne Cup now.
“I was pretty ecstatic after the race, I don’t usually carry on like that. But the Melbourne Cup has gone to a different level now, as it does every year. This was a very good field with some of the best stayers from around the world — the race is truly international now.’’
McEvoy said Almandin enjoyed a good run through the race although he had a moment of concern early when the stayer over-raced for a few strides. But Almandin settled into a nice rhythm and McEvoy said the stayer’s momentum was not impeded from the 800m.
“It is so important to get a trouble-free run, which we were lucky enough to get,’’ he said.
Almandin eventually drew clear with Heartbreak City from the 300m as the pair settled down for a duel to the finish. McEvoy rode hands and heels over the final 100m as Almandin edged to the lead — but the jockey said that was more by accident than design.
“It was a bit windy out there and I was holding the whip backhand when I went to twirl it through and I almost fumbled it,’’ he said. “But I didn’t need to reach for it again as the horse was comfortable and in his stride. Almandin was strongest to the line and on the day, the best horse.’’
Jockeys steer of trouble in Cup
Brad Davidson
NO jockeys were suspended in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but two horses pulled up with moderate internal bleeding and another was slightly lame.
Second placegetter Heartbreak City was found to be suffering from moderate internal bleeding despite running the race of his life, while outsider Rose Of Virginia also pulled up with the same condition after finishing last.
Rose Of Virginia, who was also galloped on during the race, was under extreme pressure well before the turn and when the horse’s turned for home her jockey Ben Thompson had pulled the seven-year-old mare out of the race.
Rose Of Virginia officially finished the race, with her beaten margin recorded as 99 lengths behind the second-last horse (Curren Mirotic).
Oceanographer finished a disappointing 12th but did pull up slightly lame in his off foreleg. Oceanographer’s trainer Charlie Appleby said the horse didn’t back up after winning the Lexus Stakes on Saturday.
Unlike last year when Frankie Dettori was suspended for one month and fined $20,000 for taking out almost half the Cup field, no jockey was suspended from the $6.2 million race.
In other stewards news from Flemington on Tuesday, jockey Chris Symons (Jessy Belle) was suspended for 11 meetings for causing interference at the 1500m mark of race 2.
The Peter and Paul Snowden stable also informed stewards yesterday Capitalist will not contest Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Classic. Capitalist was ruled out of last Saturday’s Coolmore Stud Stakes due to a stone bruise.
Originally published as Kerrin McEvoy savours second Melbourne Cup victory after mighty win by Almandin