Shooting for a fourth win in the Melbourne Cup, jockey Kerrin Mcevoy admits the nerves are still there, years after a first success.
Victory aboard Ashrun in Tuesday’s Cup over 3200m at Flemington will see McEvoy join Harry White and Bobbie Lewis as the most winningest jockey in the history of Australia’s great race.
Brew in 2000 gave McEvoy his first Cup success before Almandin in 2016 and Cross Counter in 2018.
McEvoy partnered Ashrun when the French-bred stayer won his way into the Melbourne Cup field in 2020 by claiming the Hotham Handicap before finishing tenth in the Melbourne Cup when trained by Andreas Wohler.
McEvoy switched to Tiger Moth in the Cup who was defeated by Twilight Payment while Declan Bates partner Ashrun.
The 2020 Cup was the last time Ashrun was seen for almost three years and the gelding claimed a start in this year’s race when second in the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 25 for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Ashrun is an outsider at $34 for Tuesday’s race with bookies and McEvoy said he will be just as nervous before the race as he was last year when he partnering $4.40 favourite Deauville Legend into fourth place.
“There’s still the same nervous build up for the big event and I can’t wait to get there,” McEvoy said.
“The horse has been running well and is in the right camp for a staying event.
“That is something Ciaron and Dave do so well and he’s trending towards a big run in my opinion.
“His Geelong Cup run was fantastic and I’m looking forward to the race.”
There is a feeling that Ashrun may be flying under radar which McEvoy concurs with.
“He’s come back from injury, but he’s a nice horse in his own right and there’s no reason why he can’t go there and have a top 10 finish in my opinion,” McEvoys said.
Like a number of rivals, McEvoy sees the favourite Vauban as the one to beat.
“I was quite taken with his win at Royal Ascot and all his work since he’s got out here has been fantastic and he looks the one for us to beat,” McEvoy said.
“He and Gold Trip are drawn quite low which makes their job a little bit easier, and they just need to get an easy run for the first half, and they’ll be right in it.”
