Read what the jockeys said about their rides in the 2021 Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Winning Jockey (Verry Elleegant) – James McDonald
Thoughts on Verry Elleegant: “I love her to bits. She has been so good to me. I can safely say she is a champion now isn’t she? She knows.”
“She was relaxed the whole way. I can’t believe what has just happened. I never thought I would ever win one. I’ve always dreamed of winning one but they are so hard to win. Dreams do come true when you’re piloting superstars.
“I’ve been saying from Saturday onwards, her fight and determination just takes her so far.”
What the beaten jockeys in the 2021 Melbourne Cup had to say.
Brett Prebble – Incentivise (2nd): “Courageous effort. His first time to this trip and it took a champion to beat him.”
Craig Williams – Spanish Mission (3rd): “Couldn’t have been any more impressed with his gallant performance. I had the option of being one horse in for the entire race but I decided to be on the back of Grand Promenade, I thought it would take me nicely into the race and we did. But when Verry Elleegant came around me, she was towing. My horse did a really good job and was fighting it out for second. Great job by Andrew Balding and his team for the planning and what a gallant warrior to go to battle with. Thanks for the opportunity.”
Teo Nugent – Floating Artist (4th): “Super run. Every time we’ve raised the bar with this horse he measures up and landed in a beautiful spot out of the gates. We followed Incentivise and he travelled so strong the whole way. I thought at the top of the straight that he gave a lovely kick for me and he’s run a very good fourth. I’ve very happy with him.”
Damian Lane – The Chosen One (5th): “Really proud of this horse. He’s run a massive race. Trained to the minute and ran his best.”
Kerrin McEvoy – Grand Promenade (6th): “He’s run a good race. We didn’t have any luck. Got caught wide the trip but he stuck on well.”
Damien Oliver – Delphi (7th): “He ran well. We had a great run. He feels like more of a mile-and-a-half horse than a two-miler to me.”
Selino – Ron Stewart (8th): “Just a little further back than I would have wanted to be. Just couldn’t find the right horse to take me into the race. Overall, I thought it was a good staying effort.”
Dean Holland – Tralee Rose (9th): “She had a really nice run. She toughed it out but she’s probably not sharp enough when you need her.”
Craig Newitt – She’s Ideel (10th): “She ran well again.”
Jye McNeil – Twilight Payment (11th): “He wasn’t able to get into his usual role and at the halfway point he really struggled.”
Patrick Moloney – Miami Bound (12th): “She wouldn’t go in the first 1000 metres. If she jumped and travelled she might have run top eight. She whacked away and got the ones that were tiring.”
Michael Dee – Great House (13th): “Had a good run. I could feel he was coming under pressure about the 600 or 700 (metre mark). He was gone by then, but he tried really hard all the way to the line. Expected a little bit better but he tried hard today.”
Glen Boss – Sir Lucan (14th): “He’s a juvenile. I had no power from the 1000 metre mark.”
John Allen – Explosive Jack (15th): “He was disappointing. He whacked away, but he’s missing a bit of scrap.”
Fred Kersley – Master Of Wine (16th): “Nice.”
Rachel King – Pondus (17th): “Just raced a bit dour and couldn’t sprint off that speed.”
Blaike McDougall – Carif (18th): “It was a good effort. Got in a nice position. He travelled well. Just the class factor when they quickened up, he was under pressure.”
Daniel Stackhouse – Knights Order (19th): “He’s just not going anywhere at the moment.”
Luke Currie – Persan (20th): “I didn’t think he would lead but he was sort of out at the 600 (metre mark).
Harry Coffey – Port Guillaume (21st): “He didn’t run out a strong 3200 metres in a strong pressure race.”
Lachie King – Johnny Get Angry (22nd): “He’ll go out for a spell and then assess the options after he comes back.”
Damien Thornton – Ocean Billy (23rd): “Disappointing.”
