Kerrin Mcevoy says it would mean a lot if he could join Bobbie Lewis and Harry White as a joint record holder of the most Melbourne Cup wins.
Lewis rode his four Cup wins over a 27-year period in the early 1900’s while White, who died on Cox Plate eve, registered his four victories in the space of six years in the 1970’s.
McEvoy won his first aboard Brew in 2000 then had to wait until Almandin in 2016 before winning again two years later on Cross Counter.
This year McEvoy rides Deauville Legend in Tuesday’s 3200m Melbourne Cup who is the $3.60 with TAB and on Monday evening the only runner in single figure figures.
“It would mean a lot,” McEvoy said of a fourth Cup win.
“Obviously records are for everyone to see, and it has been a great race for me over the years.
“It has been a fantastic memory made for my career and my family and it would be fantastic to add to that tomorrow.”
McEvoy remembers well his first Cup win on Brew, which also provided him with his first win in a Group 1 contest while on Tuesday he will be lining up for his 19th Cup ride.
That is one more than Craig Williams with only Craig Newitt (11) and Hugh Bowman (10) being the other jockeys in double figures.
McEvoy said he still gets a little nervous before the Cup.
“I’d like to think you should be getting a bit toey, nervously excited,” McEvoy said.
“You get there on the day and you just want to get to the Cup, and everything else is a bit of a blur.
“It is a great lead up, but you just want to get there on the back of your horse and once I do that it is job on, you just want to get on and get it done.”
Riding for Deauville Legend’s owner Bon Ho in Sydney gave McEvoy first refusal of the Cup ride.
It didn’t take long to convince the jockey the stayer had excellent credentials with his win in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York being confirmed by El Bodegon running third in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
“His run at Goodwood highlighted to me that he could be a top chance in the race and then he went to a new level when he won the Great Voltigeur at York,” McEvoy said.
“I have been lucky enough to ride in Cups when they have been in the money, and they have not been a favourite. I cannot dictate the price, you just have to ride it like any other.
“I would prefer it not to be heavy, if it comes up soft, I think it will be fine, so I hope the rain misses.”
