Why Kerrin McEvoy went for loyalty over Legend in The Everest

Cathy McEvoy has revealed the torture her husband Kerrin went through before deciding to lock in Redzel for today’s The Everest.

Cathy McEvoy, wife of Redzel’s jockey Kerrin, at Centennial Park in Sydney this week with her ponies Arrow and Fox. Picture: Adam Yip

Cathy McEvoy has revealed the torture her husband Kerrin went through a month ago before deciding to lock in Redzel as his ride for Saturday’s $14m The Everest.

McEvoy was torn between switching onto promising galloper Classique Legend or sticking with the two-time Everest champion.

“He said it was the toughest decision he’s ever had to make,” she told The Weekend Australian in the countdown to the running of the nation’s richest race at Royal Randwick.

McEvoy, who has won both runnings of The Everest on Redzel, also partnered the veteran speedster to victory for the third year in a row on September 7 in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.

Three days later at Randwick McEvoy rode Classique Legend, a four-year-old gelding he had ridden in three wins from four starts earlier in the year, to an impressive victory in a barrier trial over 1000 metres.

“How can you get off Redzel? He’s been our champion, not just winning the two Everests but lots of other races as well,” said Cathy, herself a jockey and sister of Michelle Payne.

“I didn’t say anything. I just kept my mouth closed because I didn’t want to add to the pressure. At the end of the day it was his decision.

“He had to go with what he thought was the right one and while I love Classique Legend, I think loyalty goes a long way,” she said.

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Since making his mind up, another issue has been the clash between The Everest and the Caulfield Cup. The races are run an hour apart in different states.

“It is a bit frustrating for Kerrin and the other jockeys not being able to ride in the Caulfield Cup. He’s booked to ride Finche in the Melbourne Cup but cannot ride him in the lead-up and he’s the favourite,” McEvoy said.

She is a huge fan of The Everest race day, unique to Sydney — an interesting observation from someone who was born in New Zealand, grew up in Ballarat and has lived in England and Dubai and seen lots of Europe.

“It isn’t like the Melbourne Cup or Cup week. It is more like the Cox Plate for sprinters. The best field is chosen and Randwick draws its biggest crowds for the year,” she said.

“The atmosphere on the day is different to any other race meeting I’ve been to. The first year, the moment I walked through the entrance, I sensed that it was a really young crowd and everyone was into it. Last year, the weather wasn’t great but they got a good crowd and they stayed on for the concert after the races were over. They get really good artists to play.

“It’s getting bigger and better each year and the build up to it is amazing.”

While Redzel runs on the pace he is likely to trail Nature Strip in the early going.

The fate of Nature Strip’s Everest quest will be determined in the first few 100 metres of the race, according to his jockey Tim Clark. The horse brings an X-factor to the contest with opinion divided whether his raw speed can be harnessed to run out a strong 1200m.

Clark will be the man in the hot seat at Randwick and he says how the horse handles the first part of the race is crucial.

“It’s important for him to get the first half of the race right,” Clark said. “If he gets the first half right, I think that will go a long way to helping him run out the 1200 metres strongly.” Complicating the task is Nature Strip’s outside barrier. Again, opinion is divided whether he has the natural pace to negate the draw or will be made to work early by runners kicking up on his inside.

Nature Strip was $26 with TAB Fixed odds on Friday with Santa Ana Lane and Arcadia Queen joint $4.60 favourites in what is regarded as clearly the deepest Everest field in the race’s short history.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP