McEvoy says HK stint prepared him for Dubai
Just weeks after completing a short-term contract in Hong Kong, young Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy has become the number two rider for the Dubai-based Godolphin organisation.
The Maktoum family's corporate racing arm, which targets major Group One prizes around the world, announced McEvoy's appointment to the world's media at a special showing of their stable stars at Al Quoz stables in Dubai yesterday morning. McEvoy, 23, will partner Godolphin runners when Frankie Dettori, the stable's number one jockey, is unavailable.
Godolphin showcased the Melbourne Cup winning jockey by having him ride out the first gallop of the morning on board English 2000 Guineas hero Refuse To Bend. McEvoy, the reigning champion jockey in Melbourne, described the engagement as 'something I could never have dreamed of'.
'This is a fabulous opportunity for me,' he said. 'I am really looking forward to being involved in my first European racing season and to working with Godolphin.'
McEvoy continued: 'I haven't been to England, or anywhere in Europe, before. But I'm really looking forward to it - I'll be based there from the end of April. I am very grateful to Godolphin and to Sheikh Mohammed for giving me this chance.'
McEvoy said his recent stint in Hong Kong, where he had just one winner from 60 rides, had definitely played a role in his unfolding success. 'Hong Kong served to sharpen me up, riding against great jockeys like Douglas Whyte, Shane Dye, Felix Coetzee and Gerald Mosse . But it also toughened me up mentally. Having 60 rides and only riding one winner, you need to keep the mental part of your game under control. In that respect, Hong Kong really helped prepare me for my return to Dubai.'
McEvoy's first rides for Godolphin as retained second jockey will be on Saturday at the Dubai World Cup meeting when he partners Inamorato (Godolphin Mile), Delsarte (Dubai Sheema Classic) and Refuse To Bend (Dubai Duty Free).
Godolphin's trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, said he has been 'very impressed' with McEvoy, who originally came to Dubai two years ago as the prize for being the top jockey on the Dubai Racing Club cup programme at Caulfield in late September.
'I came here, did some riding for Godolphin, and was then asked by them to ride Beekeeper in the Melbourne Cup that year,' McEvoy recalled. 'Beekeeper ran third in the Melbourne Cup, the best finish of the Godolphin horses that year, and it game me a great thrill to have done well on the horse for them. Then Sheikh Mohammed invited me back the next year, and things have gone on from there. But being named as Godolphin's second jockey, it's more than I could ever have expected.'
The special bonus of the Godolphin link, according to McEvoy, has been the close bond he has forged with champion jockey Dettori. 'Frankie has been an enormous help to me, and he will continue to advise me on the best way to ride the major tracks in Europe,' McEvoy revealed. 'There is no rivalry here. Everyone is part of a team and we all work together to achieve the best-possible result for Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin.'
