Brae Sokolski climbs racing’s highest mountain with Melbourne Cup quinella
Brae Sokolski couldn’t contain himself as a 30 year dream was realised when his star pair - Verry Elleegant and Incentivise - quinellaed the Melbourne Cup.
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Emotions overrode protocols for prominent part-owner Brae Sokolski as he ditched his green, black and olive tartan tie and jumped the fence into the mounting yard after his champion mare Verry Elleegant upset his more fancied runner Incentivise to win the 2021 Melbourne Cup.
A tearful Sokolski apologised for leaping into the yellow zone on what was a very different Cup Day, but the sheer delight of being able to quinella the race with two superstars was almost too much for him.
He declared himself “the luckiest human on the planet” for winning the race he had watched since he was a 15-year-old kid with big dreams of one day backing the Cup winner.
Sokolski has done far more than that in recent years, winning most of the biggest races on the Australian turf calendar, including this year’s Caulfield Cup with Incentivise.
But he said nothing could compare to what unfolded at Flemington on Tuesday in the space of three minutes, 17.43 seconds.
“I am so apologetic about (breaking) those protocols, but I just wanted to be with the mare and with Incentivise,” Sokolski said.
“The adrenaline got the better of me, but these moments are once in a lifetime moments.
“This is as high as you can climb.”
Having leapt into the yellow zone where he was not meant to be, Sokolski was ushered out the side gate after celebrating briefly with the Chris Waller stable representatives.
Thankfully, he was able to make a welcome return for the Cup presentations alongside his part-owner and mate Ozzie Kheir.
Sokolski had worn the Incentivise colours on his tie, but when he saw the red, royal blue band of Verry Elleegant cruise up to the Cup favourite at the 200m, he knew his mare had the race in her keeping.
The tie had to go … even if his admiration for both horses went up a gear or two.
“I just saw the red and blue colours weaving and she was cantering,” Sokolski said. “It was over, he (Incentivise) fought on incredibly bravely, but what a performance from her.
“Let’s not forget she beat him – a horse of his calibre – at level weights, it was an extraordinary performance.”
Sokolski, who watched the race with his mother, sister and friends, said Verry Elleegant’s win – her 10th Group 1 victory – elevated her into the pantheon of Australasian racing champions.
“That takes her to rarefied air … she will not be out of place amongst the greatest horses we have ever seen – to win a Caulfield Cup (2020) and a Melbourne Cup with 57kg as a mare, as well as all those weight-for-age races,” he said.
Sokolski, 45, had already had success in so many other of Australia’s greatest races including the Caulfield Cup (Verry Elleegant), the Cox Plate (Sir Dragonet) and The Everest (Yes Yes Yes).
But the closest he had previously come to Melbourne Cup success was when Finche – another Waller horse – finished fourth in Cross Counter’s 2018 race.
“It’s been a dream for me,” he said. “I remember watching it (the Cup) as a 15-year-old in awe of the horses and being a punter, that’s all.”
“To be able to be thrust into the ownership (of horses) and to be able to race a horse of her calibre, that’s just amazing.
“I’ve got my mother and my sister here and my close friends. It’s so special. The best thing about racing is sharing the success. It would be hollow if you were to do it alone.
“They feel like it is their horse; she’s not just mine, and Incentive is not just mine either. It is their horse; and it is the racing public’s horse too.”
Having been forced to party from Sydney when Incentivise won the Caulfield Cup last month – due to border closures – he planned to go all out on celebrating Verry Elleegant’s Cup success.
“We are going to party long and hard, and celebrate both of our horses,” he added. “They deserve it. This just whets the appetite … I never thought I just wanted to achieve this and then exit stage left. I am so privileged to have the opportunity to own horses like this.”
Originally published as Brae Sokolski climbs racing’s highest mountain with Melbourne Cup quinella
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