Top jockey Kerrin McEvoy capped off a busy weekend of travel when he took out the Goulburn Cup for unstoppable trainer Chris Waller.
By the time McEvoy went to bed on Sunday night, he had racked up an amazing 2488km in travel, starting with Hawkesbury in the stifling heat on Friday, Ballarat on Saturday, then the long journey down the Hume Highway on Sunday.
McEvoy never looked troubled on Pythagorean, who was sent out the $4 favourite and won by more than a length from the Kurt Goldman-trained trio Faust ($11), Court Connection ($21) and Kazoom ($11).
Waller contacted McEvoy about the ride and he had no hesitation about heading down to steer the UK import.
“It’s good to get called up by Waller, and it’s good to do the job for him,’’ said McEvoy, who was greeted by four seasons among the time he left the enclosure until he passed the winning post.
“I wasn’t coming down here for no reason. I got on the right horse and he did the job. You get good pleasure doing that, that’s for sure.
Kerrin McEvoy after winning the Goulburn Cup. Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Corp Australia
“It was a nice win, it looked a good race for him. Chris wanted him to switch off and relax and getting back to the mile suited him.
“I was confident before the race and he proved a worthy winner. This was my first Goulburn Cup, and tough races are always good to win.’’
McEvoy revealed he nearly missed his flight from Ballarat late on Saturday.
“I got there as they were shutting the gate,” he said .
The former No. 1 Godolphin jockey hasn’t looked back since parting ways with Sheikh Mohammed’s giant operation and will pack his bags for the international invitational night in Hong Kong next month.
Previously on Sunday, Il Mio Destino won the inaugural running of a race named in honour of the late Guy Walter — the trainer who won the cup last year with Any Day Will Do.
That horse was ridden by Nathan Berry, the hoop who lost his life six weeks before Walter.
In the same race, Berrichon was scratched at the gates, which was the second time in two days a smart Godolphin runner was pulled out of the gates.
