Kerrin McEvoy, the accomplished jockey with three Melbourne Cup victories under his belt, has secured a lightweight ride in this year’s prestigious race. Australian Bloodstock has made the decision to enlist McEvoy as the jockey for Ashrun, a returning stayer who earned his spot in the Melbourne Cup with a commendable second-place finish in the Geelong Cup last week.
Ashrun’s journey to the 2023 Melbourne Cup is one of the heartwarming tales of Cup Week. The gelding faced a long hiatus from racing, enduring a 1000-day absence due to injuries. However, his comeback has been marked by a solid performance this season, including a seventh-place finish over 1700 meters and a good sixth-place finish in the Bart Cummings.
Mark Zahra, who rode Ashrun in the Geelong Cup, has opted to ride Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight in the Melbourne Cup, paving the way for Kerrin McEvoy to take the reins on Ashrun who who partnered to win the Archer Stakes in 2020.
Kerrin McEvoy’s Melbourne Cup triumphs have come aboard Brew in 2000, Almandin in 2016, and Cross Counter in 2018. He came tantalisingly close to victory in the 2020 Melbourne Cup when he finished as the runner-up on the favourite, Tiger Moth, trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Ashrun is currently at $34 in the Melbourne Cup betting odds with Australian betting sites.
