DREAM CATCHER
Premonition turns into reality as Cross Counter takes glory
KERRIN McEvoy had a premonition six months ago that Godolphin’s obsession to win a Melbourne Cup would reap the ultimate payday this year but his pre-race confidence was shaken just hours before yesterday’s $7.3 million race.
He couldn’t find his lucky-charm necklace.
It’s the necklace his wife Cathy gave to him in 2000 – the year he won his first Cup on Brew – and it has hung around his neck through his extraordinary successes since.
A relatively peaceful morning turned into a frantic search that failed to turn up the item before he left for Flemington.
He had followed a “gut” feeling to ride lightly raced international Cross Counter – owned by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Charlie Appleby, with whom he had shared many long car rides to tracks in the north of England – instead of Australian hope Youngstar.
“Everything was going smoothly until I couldn’t find it,” the 38-year-old said. “But I just had to put it
out of my mind, and get on with the job.”
The one-time kid from Streaky Bay in South Australia did of all that, and more, as he overcame midrace obstacles, and a huge amount of ground to make up, to further etch his name into Cup folklore.
Three successes in the race that stops the nation – he also won on Almandin in 2016 – has elevated him alongside six other greats.
He is one win away from legends Harry White and Bobby Lewis at the top of the Melbourne Cup jockey tree.
“To win three Melbourne Cups is a huge moment in my career,” said McEvoy (right).
“It is great to repay the faith, and help Sheik Mohammed win his first Cup. It is also great to do this with Charlie Appleby.”
Cathy, sister of 2015 Cupwinning jockey Michelle Payne, revealed McEvoy told her months ago Godolphin would break through.
“Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would win three,” she said. “He said to me six months ago, ‘Godolphin is going to win it this year, and I’m going to be on it’.”
When McEvoy won the Cup on Brew 18 years ago, the folk in Streaky Bay drank the pub dry and cleaned out the TAB.
His father, Phillip, who travelled to Flemington yesterday with his wife Tracy, said: “Streaky Bay would be turned on its head again”.