Kerrin McEvoy’s hopes of winning an elusive Cox Plate will need to wait at least another year but the jockey still has his sights on another Melbourne Cup this spring.
A three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, McEvoy is booked to ride the Willie Mullins-trained Irish visitor Absurde on the first Tuesday in November, aiming to add to his previous wins in the Flemington feature aboard Brew (2000), Almandin (2016) and Cross Counter (2018).
Sydney-based McEvoy said he is scheduled to travel south to ride Absurde – who is housed at the Werribee International Horse Centre – in a gallop on Monday to get familiar with the stayer in preparation for the Cup eight days later.
“I’d say it could be his main bit of work for down there,” McEvoy said.
“That could be just a final hit-out that he needs for the Cup, so I’m looking forward to that.”
McEvoy was happy to confirm Absurde as his Cup ride when the Mullins camp approached him.
Absurde has 52.5kg in the Cup.
“Willie’s stable got in touch and I was happy to lock him in,” McEvoy said.
“He’s a horse that’s been with Willie for an extra 12 months and looks as though he’s in better form than last year.
“He said he’s improved and who’s to say he can’t come down and second time turn the tables on his first run in the Melbourne Cup.”
Absurde, who won the Listed Chester Cup in England at the end of August at his most recent start, is back for his second attempt at the Cup after finishing seventh last year.
His stablemate Vauban, who ran 14th last year when starting as the $5.50 favourite, is also back for another crack at the famous race.
Zac Purton rode Absurde in last year’s Cup with 53kg.
“He obviously sat close to that hot speed last year and was the closest home of those horses that settled close to the front, or in the first half, so he stays well,” McEvoy said.
“I see they’ve ridden him a tiny bit quieter in runs this time back in the UK and he sprinted well when he won at Chester last start in a small field.
“The fact that he was able to do that says that he’s in good form, around a tricky little track like Chester, and I was pleased to lock him in given that there wasn’t a lot standing out in regards to local horses.
“So I thought that he was the best one for me.”
Along with his three Melbourne Cups, McEvoy has also won a Caulfield Cup (All The Good in 2008) and a Golden Slipper (Sepoy in 2011) during his career and needs a Cox Plate to complete the traditional ‘big four’ of Australian racing.
He doesn’t have a ride in this year’s Cox Plate at The Valley and will instead be competing in Sydney at the Spring Champion Stakes meeting on Saturday.
“Yeah, it’s disappointing,” McEvoy said.
“There’s a small field this year (in the Cox Plate) so I didn’t have a lot of options. But we’ve got good racing here so I’m happy to stay in Sydney.”
– racing.com