Two rival jockeys, James McDonald and Rachel King, have conveyed their understanding of the significant effort Harry Coffey is making in his attempt to ride in the Melbourne Cup, despite a recent injury.
Coffey sustained a collarbone injury from a fall in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. He underwent a procedure on Sunday in his effort to retain the ride on Shockletz for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.
McDonald, who is set to ride Trustyourinstinct, mentioned that the most serious injury he has ridden with was a broken toe, ‘touch wood’.
“It’s like a Grand Final for us jockeys,” McDonald said. “This is the race that stops the nation, so you’d try and get up for anything. It’s tough going, and we saw it with Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil the other day. It’s a game of inches and there’s nowhere to hide.”
King concurred, stating she understands the difficulties that can prevent a jockey from competing.
“I’ve been through a few injuries myself and know how hard it is, and I’m sure he won’t be there unless he’s 100 percent,” King stated. “It’s amazing what he is doing and going through. It proves how much it means to us jockeys.”
So You Are’s trainer, Bjorn Baker, described jockeys as pound for pound, the most fearless sportsmen and women globally.
“Harry Coffey is remarkably tough and he’s a great, great person, and hopefully he’s A OK,” Baker commented. “He’s resilient and as tough as teak and I think that’s what a lot of the jockey’s do. Pound for pound, they are the toughest, fittest, most fearless sportsmen and women in the world, and I do not say that lightly.”
McDonald is pursuing his second Cup win, having triumphed aboard Verry Elleegant in 2021 during a COVID-restricted event. His mount, Trustyourinstinct, will start from barrier 18, the same gate Verry Elleegant used to win the race.
“Someone texted me to say that the last horse to jump out of barrier 18 was Verry Elleegant to win the race,” McDonald shared. “I will be taking that as a positive.”
McDonald recalled riding against Trustyourinstinct’s trainer, Joseph O’Brien, in their earlier years and is looking forward to riding the stayer for its prominent Irish owner, JP McManus.
“His colours are so famous around the world. He’s won big races around the world and he’s an icon of racing,” McDonald said. “He’s never won the Melbourne Cup, so it would be pretty special. There will be nerves thinking about it tonight and tomorrow as it’s our pinnacle race, it and the Cox Plate and The Everest. It’s the Holy Grail that we strive to achieve. I’ve been lucky enough to win it once and I’d like to bottle all that up and do it again. It’s an honour to ride for the connections, an Irish runner, and it would be pretty special if we can get the job done. He’s a great chance.”
King, who has yet to place in five previous Melbourne Cup rides, considers So You Are her strongest chance this year.
“I’m really confident he can run well,” King stated. “He’s not the finished product yet and there’s more to come but this preparation he’s got better and better. He’s a very fit horse and he’s as confident as I am.”
Baker feels that a win with So You Are would serve as a form of redemption for his father, Murray, who finished second in the 1990 Cup with The Phantom.
As the Melbourne Cup has evolved into a truly international race, Baker believes he is representing Australasia.
Having been raised in New Zealand and now training at Warwick Farm in Sydney, Baker is proud of his connection to the region.
“I really feel I’m representing Australasia when I go into a race like this with a true Aussie bred, tough stayer, and the underdogs can win,” Baker said. “Murray couldn’t quite do it. In 1990, he’s still got the second fastest time ever in the Melbourne Cup when The Phantom was beaten by Kingston Rule. It was a race record. It was the one that got away and he will dream that we can do it.”
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