MYALL’S Michelle and Darryl McNeil were reunited with a trophy close to their heart, when the 2021 Melbourne Cup trophy toured the Gannawarra Shire on Thursday (October 14).
Their son, former Kerang jockey Jye McNeil, rode Twilight Payment into the history books, when he won the 2020 Melbourne Cup.
It was Jye’s first time racing in the “race that stops a nation”, and one of four Group One (the premier races for thoroughbreds during the racing season in Australia) wins for the jockey.
On Thursday (October 15), Michelle and Darryl took part in the 2021 Cup’s visit to Kerang and the wider Gannawarra region.
They jumped on board the Wetlander Cruises, along the Gunbower Creek, with some of Jye’s racing memorabilia, which was then presented to the Kerang Turf Club.
Jye first raced at the Kerang track and had his first win in the Autopro Kerang Summer Cup on Boxing Day in 2011, riding the Jim Lake trained De Mars.
The memorabilia was organised by and donated by Jye and his Melbourne-based manager John Kanga.
Also in attendance were trainer John Mathieson with locally trained horse Jittery Jack, (who has won more than $20,000 including two wins in city races), as well as Kerang Turf Club committee and life members, and Kerang born and bred Victoria Racing Club ambassador Bree Laughlin.
Unable to attend in person, Jye attended all the festivities in cardboard cut out form.
Darryl said it was breathtaking seeing the Cup again.
“It’s such an iconic trophy in the sport,” he said.
“It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.”
Darryl said with the 2020 Melbourne Cup trophy going to the owner, Jye was given a trophy three-quarters in size.
“A moment I will never forget was when he returned home a week after the Cup, and he had the Cup in one hand.”
Mrs McNeil said the win was amazing.
“I still get emotional talking about it. It’s still raw,” she said.
Mrs McNeil said it was every jockey’s dream to win a Melbourne Cup.
“As a young child, Jye said his goal was to win a Melbourne Cup, but, I never thought he could do it because it’s a hard race to win,” she said.
“To be in his first Melbourne Cup and win was amazing. We’re very proud of him.”
This was the second time that Darryl and Michelle were involved in the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.
In 2019, Koondrook/Barham were jointly one of 24 rural and regional towns the Cup toured at.
The towns were also allocated a barrier for the 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
As part of the sweep, Michelle and Daryl walked in the Lexus Melbourne Cup Parade and attended an event at Government House in Melbourne.
