Kerrin McEvoy in form of his life after third Melbourne Cup win
Kerrin McEvoy is in the form of his life with three Melbourne Cups and two Everests and those closest to him say it is just as thrilling as when he first broke through with the 2000 Melbourne Cup.
Kerrin McEvoy’s sister Renae celebrated her brother’s third Melbourne Cup win at a raucous front bar at the Streaky Bay Hotel as the picturesque coastal hamlet erupted again on Tuesday afternoon.
And Renae Edmunds described the atmosphere as just as electric when McEvoy streamed down the straight as during his previous wins in 2000 and 2016 as the whole pub cheered on the local great.
The hotel was packed with women attending a Melbourne Cup luncheon in race fashion and punters doing their best to drain the TAB of money by plonking their cash on McEvoy.
“Did you back it?” was the first question they asked when they spoke to The Advertiser.
Mrs Edmunds couldn’t be more thrilled as celebrations continued at the front bar.
“Hasn’t he done well?” she said. “It’s just fantastic; it’s amazing.
“I think the further into his career he’s getting the better he’s getting and he’s just enjoying it more and more.
“He’s at his peak and we’re really proud of him.
“It’s still the same thrill, for sure.
“To win a Melbourne Cup is the top of the mountain, I suppose.
“To win one of those is not easy so to win three — he’s been really blessed.”
The family remains close, with McEvoy’s other sister Melissa, Renae, Kerrin and their respective families planning for Christmas in Streaky Bay with parents Phillip and Tracy.
Melbourne Cup day was a celebration in advance for the big mob.
“We’re all very close,” Mrs Edmunds said. “We have children all around the same age.
“My brother obviously has three boys and a little girl, I have three boys and my sister has two boys and a girl so we’re a big family.
“We all love getting together at Christmas; Kerrny and Cathy and the children are coming home so we’re all looking forward to that.”
Renae’s husband Dion, McEvoy’s brother-in-law, said nothing compared to watching McEvoy winning the biggest race at the Streaky Bay pub.
“I had the chance to go to Melbourne but I’ve got three young boys and I’d rather watch it here with them and watch it in the front bar and experience it with a great bunch of friends.
“Everybody just loves Kerrin over here so it didn’t matter if they backed him or not — everyone was just rapt.
“If you had $5 or a $1000 on him it didn’t matter — or if you had a few other chances — everybody was cheering for him.”
Streaky Bay Racing Club secretary John Rumbelow, like most of his generation in Streaky Bay, has known McEvoy since he first took up riding.
The thing that makes McEvoy remain so popular in the township is that he’s kept his feet on the ground.
The racing club and the community are racing funds for a statue of McEvoy, most likely to be on the foreshore lawn outside of the hotel, and the Cup win is likely to added to the momentum.
“It was a huge roar when he was coming down the straight,” Rumbelow said. “It’d be on the cards that the TAB runs out of money.
“It (a statue) would be a fitting tribute.
“He’s always been the same Kerrin McEvoy when he left for Adelaide as an apprentice.
“He’s still the same; he comes to the front bar for a drink and he’s probably a multi-millionaire but you wouldn’t know.
“We call him a kid but he’s not anymore, of course; he’s a marvellous fella.”
Family friend Suzie Kenny was among those in high spirits at the hotel.
She could not think of a more deserving winner.
“He’s super humble and whenever he comes home for holidays he’s just Kerrin,” Ms Kenny said.
“You wouldn’t know he’s a famous jockey.”