There is no more exhilarating feeling in racing than when you know you are on the Melbourne Cup winner heading down the straight at Flemington.
I have been in that position three times before, and hopefully, I get that surge of adrenalin again on Deauville Legend on Tuesday.
Trainer James Ferguson leads Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend and Kerrin McEvoy onto Werribee last week.Credit:Racng photos
The Cup is the race you dream about as a kid, especially as a jockey. You call yourself the winner of the race, I did it in the streets of Streaky Bay (in South Australia), but you can’t imagine the excitement of doing it.
I did on Brew, which launched my career in 2000. I didn’t appreciate it then as much as I do now. Almandin and Cross Counter were remarkable experiences because I was so confident going into the Cup and got the job done.
I’m in a similar space with Deauville Legend as I was with my last two Cup winners, I’m not surprised he’s the short-priced favourite.
Victories in any race are made by the people included in them. Personally, I would love to give trainer James Ferguson and owner Bon Ho the indescribable feeling of winning the Cup.
I watched James grow up when I was with Godolphin in Europe. He has turned into a wonderful trainer in a short time in the industry. He is so excited about his horse, which has my confidence high.
Bon gave me one of my best days with Classique Legend in The Everest a couple of years ago and to have him in town for the Cup is incredible.
But it comes down to the horse and two miles at Flemington – the ultimate test in Australian racing.
I have no doubt about the horse’s ability, it’s just about him handling the day.
There are a few bridges to cross before we can lift the Cup.
One of the main worries is the trip itself. I think he will get the two miles, but you’re never sure until you are well along the Flemington straight.
The second question is how soft or heavy will Flemington get and will that enhance or diminish his chances. I can’t answer that right now.
But the main concern might be the fact he has 55 kilos because the other European three-year-olds who have won the Cup had a lot less weight.
The one thing I can control is giving him the best ride. There are fundamentals to riding in the Cup. You want to get into stride nicely and to be somewhere in the first half of the field – midfield is great.
Getting into a nice rhythm and comfortable galloping action is paramount. That’s what I’ll be aiming to do on Deauville Legend.
Kerrin McEvoy’s Melbourne Cup wins on Brew, Almandin and Cross Counter.Credit:Jack Atley, Eddie Jim, Joe Armao
In the first part of the race, you are pretty tuned in to what is happening around you and where your horse is positioned. You’re trying to execute the plan you have in your head.
If things are going your way early the confidence levels will start to build. If your horse is still travelling well, you start picking off where the main opposition is from the 800m mark.
If you’re coming to the turn and you’re still on the bridle, it’s a pretty good feeling.
On Cross Counter, I was a long way back at the half-mile and even at the 600, but on Brew and Almandin I was in a commanding position at the top of the straight.
I had to duck and weave a bit to get to the outside on Cross Counter, but his acceleration was pretty sharp and I thought I’m still a chance here. He was so strong late.
Deauville Legend has had the same build-up as Cross Counter and won the Great Voltiguer Stakes at York last start, which is a race Cross Counter was second in before winning the Cup.
Cox Plate placegetter El Bodegon got the first run on him at York, and he was able to pick up and power past him in the last two furlongs.
It gave me the idea of how I would like to ride him, but that will come down to how he jumps because UK stayers often don’t have the speed of our horses out of the gate.
I’ll just need to get him comfortable in the first half of the race. If that goes right expect to see me trying to get him into a clear running at the top of the straight.
It then comes down to how strong he stays out the trip because he hasn’t been over two miles before.
I have a lot of respect for Without a Fight, and Vow And Declare has won it before and has been going really well. Montefilia ran fourth in the Caulfield Cup without a lot of luck and she will relish the two miles at Flemington.
I have ridden Realm Of Flowers and Daqiansweet Junior before and they are horses that will handle the soft ground and run out the trip. There are chance everywhere.
This will be the first time I will have my family at Flemington on Cup day. The boys are getting old enough to know what the race means, and my wife Cathy will have Charlie, Jake, Rhys and Eva there cheering for me.
Hopefully, when we are going back to Sydney on Wednesday, they will have a trophy to take to “show and tell” with a good story about their first Melbourne Cup.
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