Kerrin McEvoy riding Finche to a hopeful fourth win at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup
Kerrin McEvoy was a 20-year-old kid when he won his first Melbourne Cup on board Brew, back in 2000. So is Finche the horse to give the champion SA jockey a fourth win?
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Champion South Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy is hoping to etch his name deeper into Flemington greatness today and join the most decorated jockeys in Melbourne Cup history.
The boy from South Australia’s West Coast – who secured his third Cup victory on-board British horse Cross Counter last year – can join greats Bobby Lewis and Harry White as four-time winners when he rides heavily backed Finche in the race that stops the nation.
Aside from his family, McEvoy considers his three Melbourne Cup wins his greatest achievements.
He burst into racing’s big time aged 20 and was dubbed the Streaky Bay Kid after his win with Brew in 2000.
He has added two of the past three Cups to a stunning resume, boasting the first Cup success in 20 years of trying for global racing giants Godolphin.
“I don’t like to single them out, they are all pretty special,’’ McEvoy said.
“But the main goal of mine when I first started working for Godolphin and Sheik Mohammed all those years ago was to try and win them a Melbourne Cup.
“My second ever ride for Godolphin was in a Melbourne Cup. Winning a Caulfield Cup for them and then a Melbourne Cup was something special, a great moment for sure.”
Despite Cross Counter returning to try and become the first horse since Makybe Diva to claim consecutive Cups, McEvoy was this year forced to search closer to home for his opportunity.
“Charlie (Appelby, trainer) told me early September that William Buik would ride Cross Counter this year,’’ McEvoy said.
“But when I won (a race) on Finche, it was a case of sticking with a local horse who was here and running well.”
McEvoy has also stuck with the best in selecting Finche as his Cup ride. Finche is trained by Australia’s premier horseman, Chris Waller, who put the polish on Winx.
And much like he did with Godolphin 12 months earlier, McEvoy would love to give Waller his first slice of Melbourne Cup success.
“I’m glad to be teaming with the Chris Waller stable,’’ McEvoy said. “I’m sure Chris is going to win a Melbourne Cup sooner rather than later and I think we’ve got a nice chance in Finche.
“He was a young horse when he arrived here last year and ran fourth. He’s been gelded since, he’s been with Chris for an extra 12 months and you’d expect him to be a better version of himself come Tuesday.
“All that spells out that he has to be a great chance in the race.”
The whole McEvoy clan was on hand to help launch the Melbourne Cup Carnival in Melbourne last week and Kerrin is hoping to have them trackside on Tuesday after they missed last year’s memorable moment.
Eldest son Jake has recently taken a significant step towards following his father into the sport of kings by competing in events at the Sydney Equestrian Centre.
But while most of Australia is set to be captivated by its most celebrated horse race, McEvoy is expecting the focus to be a little different for his youngest child, daughter Eva.
“They’re pretty excited,’’ McEvoy said of his four children. “Eva turns three on the 7th, so I think she’s more excited by that.
“Hopefully they’ll all be down in Melbourne and get to pop along on Tuesday.
“It was great to get dressed up and have all the family involved in the lead-up to the big week. We had a ball. It’s great to have the kids growing up and taking an interest; it’s very special.”
Originally published as Kerrin McEvoy riding Finche to a hopeful fourth win at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup