Melbourne Cup: Katie Mallyon on James McDonald’s special bond with Verry Elleegant

Katie Mallyon, the partner of Melbourne Cup winner James McDonald, has provided an insight into his special bond with Verry Elleegant.

Katie Mallyon embraces partner James McDonald after the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Katie Mallyon has never gone the “early crow” at the 400m of a Melbourne Cup but when she caught a glimpse of her boyfriend James McDonald cantering on his mighty mare Verry Elleegant as they accelerated towards favourite Incentivise, she knew the race was over.

Watching the race near the Flemington roses, in what she described as somewhat of a mosh pit, Mallyon couldn’t be more pleased to see McDonald win his first Melbourne Cup on a horse that means so much to him.

“It’s just unbelievable,” Mallyon said.

“We were confident leading into it, but this is a Melbourne Cup, you don’t ever think you are going to win it.

“I was in a mosh pit sort of thing … there was a lady in front of me and when she (Verry Elleegant) pulled out and I saw her on the big screen, I thought ‘this horse is not going to get beaten’.

“She was absolutely bursting through. She was not stopping when she pulled out. I thought ‘we are going to win the Melbourne Cup’ at the 400m.

“I never ever do that, but she was going so well, you could see she had the race won.”

James McDonald and Verry Elleegant pulled off a stunning Melbourne Cup win. Picture: Michael Klein

Mallyon said the symmetry of McDonald winning Australia’s most famous race on one of his favourite horses made the moment even more special.

“I am thrilled that James has done this on his horse,” she said.

“I think winning a Melbourne Cup on anything would be amazing, but winning a Melbourne Cup on a horse that means so much to him is something even more special.”

She said McDonald had an amazing affinity with Verry Elleegant and his champion sprinter and Everest winner Nature Strip, meaning it was hard to split them as his favourite horses.

“Nature Strip is right up there – and he will be super hard to beat on Saturday – and I absolutely think Verry Elleegant is one of his favourite horses ever. ”

Originally published as Melbourne Cup: Katie Mallyon on James McDonald’s special bond with Verry Elleegant