Three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride this year’s favourite in the race, Deauville Legend (see all favorites horses for the Melbourne Cup this year).
Trainer James Ferguson has called on the 2000, 2016 and 2018 winner who stands at around 8/1 for the big race on Tuesday, November 1. Deauville Legend now enters quarantine before his date with destiny.
McEvoy, Ferguson and Melbourne Cup the Perfect Combo
Kerrin McEvoy has been successful in the Race That Stops the Nation three times before. He won the race on board Brew in 2000, Almandin in 2016 and for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin aboard Cross Counter in 2018.
As well as boasting a fantastic resume, there is another good reason McEvoy has been booked by trainer James Ferguson.
The Newmarket trainer has close links already with the top rider. The pair know each other from their time together with Godolphin and McEvoy is clearly trusted. The two are good friends still.
Sons of Sea The Stars have been excelling of late, not least Baaeed, with Deauville Legend adding to that success. The improving gelding has been outstanding in winning at York most recently and is apparently very well in himself.
Ferguson no doubt sees the new partnership with a three-time Cup winning jockey as perhaps the final piece of the puzzle needed for the team to land a first Melbourne Cup in five and a half weeks’ time.
Harmysian Going for Cup Gold
Meanwhile, Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas looks like saddling his first Melbourne Cup challenger this year.
Harmysian is heading for Saturday’s RM Ansett Classic at Mornington over 2400 metres, something that has always been part of the plan to get to Flemington. Douglas hopes that the race can lead to an outing in the Herbert Power (Group 2) at Caulfield on October the 8th.
The idea is that a win there would lead to Harmysian incurring a penalty. That would bump him up the ballot order for the Melbourne Cup. As of now, the horse qualifies for a start in the Cup if winning on Saturday. He would still be well down the entry order, however.
Up to now it seems, Harmysian’s prep has gone very smoothly this time around. Having won at Sandown over just 1800 metres in a Benchmark 70 race, he finished an unlucky fifth at Moonee Valley last time out over 2040 metres.
His win was second time out, with Douglas saying all three runs have been satisfactory. He’s been hitting the line well, even in defeat, leading to a step up in distance.
The RM Ansett Classic now looks to be perfect for his next prep. Home advantage is key, and the spacing between planned runs is ideal. A win on Saturday would certainly be advantageous. In terms of getting a run on November 1 however, it’s all eyes on Caulfield on October 8.
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