No one does sentiment during the autumn like the jockey formerly known as Jamie Kah.
On any given day, the superstar hoop winning her first group 1 under her new name, as the newly married Jamie Melham, would be a headline-grabbing moment.
Jamie Melham, left, wins the group 1 Orr Stakes on Another Wil.Credit: Getty Images
But, typically, she took it to another level.
She had the Caulfield mounting yard in tears on Saturday – trainers, jockeys, friends, family and fans – as she captured the group 1 1400-metre Orr Stakes for her late, great mate Colin McKenna.
Jamie Melham and Janice McKenna celebrate an emotional moment at Caulfield.Credit: Getty Images
The Warrnambool businessman, who built meat-packing empire the Midfield Group, died last spring and would have turned 75 on Tuesday.
His death from cancer meant he could not be at her wedding to fellow jockey Ben Melham at Rosemont Stud Homestead three weeks ago, and that he also missed his home-bred gelding, named after his grandson Wil, winning its first group 1.
But it did not mean he had been forgotten. The opposite was true. There wasn’t a dry eye in the mounting yard.
“I know he’s watching down on us and Another Wil lifted for his dad. That was amazing,” Melham said after the race. “I thought at the 200 he’s going to run another terrific second in a group 1, but as soon as I switched the whip it’s just like he just picked up.”
During the week the jockey revealed she had changed her famous surname from Kah to Melham because she was “old school”, and liked the idea of taking her husband’s name.
Maybe that’s why McKenna held her so dear. He was never one to beat around the bush. He was “old school”, too.
“He put me on when I was claiming three [kilograms as an apprentice] and he kept putting me on and backing me,” she said.
“I went through some tough times in racing, and he would call me every day, and ring me every day, and make sure I was OK, and make me come and stay with him and [his wife] Janice.”
Melham also revealed during the past week that McKenna had given her a wedding message from the grave.
“I was quite strong at my wedding. I didn’t cry when Ben read his vows, but when Janice walked up to me and told me what Colin would like to tell me, they gave me a bit of life advice, I lost it. I just couldn’t stop crying,” she said.
Newly married couple Ben and Jamie Melham. Credit: Courtesy of Jamie Melham
“He said, ’You are going to be angry at times, but every day you are angry at each other you have to go to bed and say, ‘I love you’ every night, and wake up and say, ‘I love you’ every morning’.”
As Melham returned to scale on Another Wil, having edged out eight-time group 1 winner Mr Brightside by a head, her husband, Ben, watched on from the jockeys’ room while McKenna’s widow strode out to meet the winning jockey by the rails. She, too, was in tears.
As they returned to scale, the jockey dismounted, and they shared a long embrace.
“I thought about this day, I dreamed about it the last few days, but it’s amazing that things like this happen in racing,” the 15-time group 1-winning hoop said.
Ciaron Maher and Jamie Melham after Another Wil wins the Orr Stakes at Caulfield.Credit: Getty Images
“There’s a God in racing … this horse has deserved it for so many starts, but to do it for Col after his birthday on Tuesday is just amazing.
“I don’t think I’m talking sense right now, this is just gibberish, but Col that’s for you. We love you.”
Trainer Ciaron Maher was struggling to hold back the emotions, too . Maher grew up in Warrnambool and McKenna backed his career from the start. He was a financial supporter, a mentor and a mate.
“Colin always loved this horse,” the trainer said. “I’ve resisted the temptation to take him to that top level because he needed time to mature and Col was always very patient, and it’s probably not fitting he can’t be here.
“He just would have been so thrilled, but I’m pretty proud, and he’s just such a great mentor and friend and supporter. It’s just beautiful.”
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