Jockey Harry Coffey has made a triumphant return to racing after a two-month absence due to a wrist injury. Since his comeback on August 10, the 28-year-old has quickly regained his form, riding five winners in just a few days and earning high praise from leading trainers.
Tony McEvoy, a multiple Group 1-winning trainer, was particularly impressed with Coffey’s performance after he guided the promising filly Twin Engine to victory at Ballarat on Tuesday. “His win on Twin Engine just shows why he did run fourth in the Scobie Breasley, he just didn’t panic, gave her a beautiful run,” McEvoy said, lauding Coffey as one of Melbourne’s top-five jockeys.
Coffey’s fourth-place finish in the prestigious Scobie Breasley Medal, behind Blake Shinn, Damian Lane, and Daniel Stackhouse, highlighted his consistent excellence last season. Despite missing the Victorian Racing Awards, Coffey was pleased with the recognition as he gears up for the spring racing season.
Coffey has a strong partnership with the McEvoy stable, boasting 42 wins and a 21.5% strike rate. This weekend, he will reunite with the stable at Caulfield, riding Sunset Dreaming in the opening event and the promising filly Arabian Summer in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes.
Reflecting on his recent success, Coffey said, “I had a great season, probably didn’t get the amount of winners that you usually would if you ran fourth in a Scobie, but I was pleasing someone, and it was obviously the stewards.”
With his injury behind him and strong backing from top trainers, Coffey is poised for a successful spring racing season, building on his recent momentum.
