THE SWAN Hill Cup Carnival has always provided the sense of a big occasion for Harry Coffey.
As a child he would be on hand as his father, respected local trainer Austy, prepared winners on the track and played host as family and friends converged on town in abundance.
The special nature of that time still resonates with Coffey, who has grown from youngster into one of Victoria’s leading apprentice jockeys at the tender age of 18.
“Swan Hill’s always been a great event for anyone involved with the racing industry,” Coffey said.
“Racing’s very big right around Australia, but it is also very close-knit and this carnival has brought a lot of family and friends together over the years.
“There’s something special about riding in front of people you know really well and this year is my third carnival as a jockey.
“I’ve ridden a winner in each of the past two years, so hopefully I can get at least one winner because there’s always that extra incentive to impress when you are at home.”
Impressing is something Coffey has been doing plenty of, especially during the past 12 months on the Victorian horse racing scene.
Not only has the Swan Hill talent outridden his country claim, but he also holds the lead in the Melbourne apprentice premiership standings after a double at Sandown on Wednesday, with good mate Jye McNeil, his only major threat.
“Jye and I grew up together, we started our apprenticeships at the same time and he’ll be riding here during the carnival,” Coffey said.
“We’re good mates off the track, but that goes out the window when we’re out there in races.”
Such has been Coffey’s emergence that for the first time he will split his commitments at the Swan Hill carnival with a strong book of rides at tomorrow’s Moonee Valley meeting.
But the lure of a plum mount in the $100,000 Swan Hill Cup (1600m) on Sunday has Coffey’s attention as he partners top-weight Lord Of Brazil for Darren Weir.
Weir, who was born in Berriwillock, is one of those great friends of the Coffey family and loves nothing more than returning “home” each June.
Fresh from breaking the Victorian record for most winners in a season, Weir has a major hand across the main races of the carnival with a three-pronged assault on today’s Golden Topaz, a key chance in the Betfair Elvstroem Classic and of course Lord Of Brazil in the Cup.
“Darren’s been a great supporter of mine and I’ve been lucky to get a number of opportunities to ride his horses,” Coffey said.
“He’s got a lot of good chances across this year’s carnival and he will be hard to beat in all the big races including the Cup.”
Coffey has eight rides in total on Cup Day and is hoping to share some success with his dad when he partners Staralan in The Guardian Court Hero Handicap (975m).
“Staralan won in this grade, at this track and in the same grade when I rode him in December,” Coffey said.
“He has some tougher opposition this time, although it will be a big result if he win being a local jockey, local trainer and local owners in the horse.”
