SWAN Hill jockey Harry Coffey rode into Flemington on Melbourne Cup day off the back of a of Ballarat winner the day before.
It put him at 30 winners in the first quarter of the racing year, way ahead of 100-winner pace.
But racing’s biggest day draws all the big stars – jockeys from around the country, and the world, flock to the famous track and Australia’s most famous race day.
That left Coffey with two rides, in races eight and 10 – and neither got as close as he had done at Ballarat.
When nearest rival Patrick and Coffey’s One Last Kiss hit the line, there wasn’t even a lip involved, only a photo was going to split them.
When later told by a racing commentator he knew the race was Coffey’s, the jockey pulled a wry face and replied “I’m glad you were right, in the end”.
“She did a good job after I had got back and got a bit of cover,” Coffey said.
“But unfortunately, that cover wasn’t taking me into the race, so I had to pull out quick and around the bend and sustain a really long gallop, and I am lucky that she was good enough to do that.”
With 300 metres to go, only the race caller was even bothering to look at One Last Kiss, let alone call her.
But Coffey had convinced the four-year-old grey mare to find enough for one last charge and they came rattling down the outside for the ultimate last stride (and nod).
“She was probably knocking up over the concluding stages, hence why she wanted to lay in,” Coffey said.
“But also luckily enough, she has a good will to win – and she did.”
Coffey described One Last Kiss as a natural stayer and he was absolutely confident she would get out over 2000m sooner rather than later.
“Unfortunately, in the end, it was just really hard, the scenario we were in – we were back, we were wide and we had to quicken off a controlled tempo,” he said.
“And don’t forget, with 60.5kg on her back, she had a big weight to carry over the 1600m.
“What’s more, she is still a relatively inexperienced horse (she has had 10 starts for two wins, two seconds and two thirds), so she will improve from it and I think we will see an even better horse over a bit further.”
