Ryan Plumb opens up about emotional Pink Ribbon Cup win with Nothing Needed

On a day that shines a spotlight on cancer, a four-year-old girl in Brisbane battling leukaemia was at the forefront of jockey Ryan Plumb’s mind as he won the Pink Ribbon Cup on Nothing Needed.

ON a day that shines a spotlight on cancer, a four-year-old girl in Brisbane battling leukaemia was at the forefront of jockey Ryan Plumb’s mind as he won the Pink Ribbon Cup on Nothing Needed.

Only six months earlier the relative, Camille, was diagnosed with leukaemia and forced to undergo significant chemotherapy.

The annual Pink Ribbon Cup race day at the Gold Coast Turf Club is used to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation but for those like Plumb, it reminds him of the damage all cancers can cause.

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“It reminds you of those close to you who have been affected,” Plumb said.

“My grandfather’s partner’s niece has leukaemia and was given a 60 per cent chance of surviving the poor little girl.

“It’s so sad for the whole family. She is the same age as my son and couldn’t go to school, couldn’t go to parties because she might get sick.

Jockey Ryan Plumb rode the Michael Costa-trained Nothing Needed to victory in the PINK RIBBON CUP Fillies and Mares Class 3 Handicap (1400m). Picture credit: Greg Irvine, Magic Millions.

“She loves the horses but she hasn’t been able to go see them either.

“To see someone so young who hasn’t experienced life yet, it’s hard.”

It was the second consecutive year Plumb rode the winner of the Cup, with the respected hoop winning the 2018 race on the Les Kelly-trained Aggravate.

His success this year came on board Michael Costa’s $2.80 favourite who added a second win to her current preparation.

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Plumb rode three winners on the day, and four at the same meeting last year.

His other two wins on Saturday came in the opening two races, winning the QTIS Three-Years-Old Class 2 Handicap (900m) on Natalie McCall’s Blue Odyssey and the Class 4 Plate (2400m) on Strike Sika for trainer Trevor Thomas in what he labelled one of the toughest wins of his career.

“Trevor was confident on race morning and it was the first time I have ever sat on it or seen it,” Plumb said of the $10 winner.

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“He said the horse doesn’t handle getting any kickback from the turf and early on he got some and he half stopped.

“I had to wind him back up and he was last by about four lengths at the start.

“It was a very tough win. He switched off in the middle stages which is good but then he didn’t really switch back on again. From the 1000 or 1200m mark I had to keep reminding him to keep improving and he slowly did it.”