Business tycoon aiming to win Melbourne Cup in memory of son who tragically died in New York

Property tycoon and Essendon powerbroker Mark Casey has his sights set on a Melbourne Cup victory after the shock death of his son.

Mark Casey and his late son James. Picture: Supplied by Mark Casey.

A leading Melbourne Cup contender will have extra help from the heavens next Tuesday after an unimaginable family tragedy.

Less than seven weeks since losing his son James, Melbourne business tycoon and Essendon AFL powerbroker Mark Casey will have import Camorra racing in his son’s memory in the Melbourne Cup.

Diabetic James Casey, 26, died in New York in September after going for a night out without his insulin and then slipping into a coma and passing away.

It would have been James’ 27th birthday on Thursday and his loved ones will come together at his favourite French restaurant in Melbourne where a commemorative plaque will be unveiled.

The late James Casey. Picture: Supplied

The plaque unveiled at a Melbourne restaurant on Thursday in memory of James Casey on what would have been his 27th birthday.

Mark Casey has purchased a significant ownership share in Melbourne Cup import Camorra, trained by brothers Ben and JD Hayes, and it will be an emotion charged moment if he can soar to Cup glory.

About 500 people attended a celebration of James Casey’s life last month including Essendon greats James Hird and Mark Harvey and star jockey Mark Zahra.

“With everything that has happened, I really hope we can raise that Melbourne Cup trophy for James. It would be a very special moment,” Casey told News Corp Australia.

“I feel that James will be doing whatever he can from up above to get this horse home, he was a good talker and he would be working the system so that Camorra can win.

“Hopefully come Tuesday he will be looking down from above and I’m sure he will.

“James had diabetes and he fell asleep while out in New York and they just thought he was drunk.

“But unfortunately with diabetes, once you go into a comatose state it is hard to bring you back. He had left his insulin on the end of his bed in his hotel room and he had no identification on him to say that he was diabetic.

“They just couldn’t wake him up and it was all too late. James was the loving son of Janne Casey and the brother of Emma. It’s been an awful time, my business partner also passed away recently.”

Mark Casey and his late son James at the races. Picture: Supplied

Camorra during trackwork at Werribee. Picture: Getty Images

Casey got into the ownership of Camorra after the galloper was sourced by Jarred Magnabosco whose Best Bloodstock company hit the headlines when racing Queensland galloper Sacred Oath which was part-owned by cricket great Shane Warne.

Casey owns a boutique breeding operation and Camorra will run in his colours in the Melbourne Cup.

Casey has gone close to winning a Melbourne Cup before when overseas raider Heartbreak City finished second in 2016 and before that he had Jakkalberry run third in 2012.

“Ever since I was a kid, my dream has been to win a Melbourne Cup,” Casey said.

“I grew up in Essendon, every year from when I was about eight onwards I used to go to the Melbourne Cup.

“Camorra will race in my colours in the Cup because it’s a special race to me, after that he may race in the Best Bloodstock colours.

Mark Casey and his late son James in his younger days. Picture: Supplied

“Jarred has a start-up business and has done such a great job with horses that he has picked to date. I initially bought 50 per cent of Camorra and then I got a few mates into the ownership because you can’t get pissed on your own.

“It’s not as important to me to see my colours go across the line in other races but the Melbourne Cup is the ultimate for me.”

Casey will have an extra reason to cheer in next Tuesday’s Cup because he also has a share in Gold Trip, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper who never saw clear air in the Cox Plate when finishing a luckless ninth.

Camorra comes with impressive credentials having won the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) in June – the same race won by imports Rekindling and Twilight Payment before their respective Melbourne Cup wins in 2017 and 2020

He is a $26 chance in latest Melbourne Cup betting while Gold Trip is a $15 chance.

Queenslander Magnabosco is driving to Melbourne with his wife who is unable to fly as she is heavily pregnant.

Originally published as Business tycoon aiming to win Melbourne Cup in memory of son who tragically died in New York