‘His dying wish was that we come back to training’: La Crique’s emotional Eagle Farm win
Kiwi mare La Crique helped to honour a dying man’s final wish as emotions overflowed at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
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Kiwi mare La Crique helped to honour a dying man’s final wish as emotions overflowed at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
La Crique is trained by New Zealanders Katrina and Simon Alexander who tragically lost their son Jackson five years ago this month.
Jackson passed away shortly before his 23rd birthday from melanoma cancer at a time when his mother and father took time off training to care for him.
One of Jackson’s last wishes was for his parents to return to training and that’s what they did to honour his legacy.
La Crique, who started the hot favourite to win the 2022 Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington where she finished fourth, has played a key role in the couple’s successful return to training.
And the mare kept the emotions flowing at Eagle Farm, giving jockey James McDonald his fourth win of the day as the galloper surged home strongly to score as the $2.70 favourite in the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m).
Another winner to @mcacajamez at Eagle Farm as La Crique wins the Magic Millions National Classic!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/79QLMJtXxx
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 8, 2024
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“We took quite a break away from racing when our son was sick, he had a five-year cancer battle,” Katrina Alexander said.
“His dying wish was that we come back to training.
“When we announced we were coming back, a very good and loyal owner said they really had no horses to give us at that time.
“But he said, he had this filly in the paddock and he didn’t know if he would break her in.
“He said to go and have a look at her and see what you think.
“That ended up being La Crique. So it was kind of meant to be I think.”
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While La Crique won by more than a length, red-hot jockey McDonald said it wasn’t all plain sailing.
“I thought she was out of play at the top of the straight,” McDonald, who rode winners for fun at Eagle Farm on Saturday, said.
“She hit a big flat spot and I didn’t think we were going to get out of it.
“But when I gave her a (whip) reminder with the left, she found a bit so it was a good effort to win.”
Originally published as ‘His dying wish was that we come back to training’: La Crique’s emotional Eagle Farm win
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