Jockey Jamie Melham says she will probably be doing a “rain dance” on Monday, forward of using Melbourne Cup favorite Half Yours.
Trying to turn out to be simply the second feminine jockey to win Australia’s most well-known horse race, Melham has spoken confidently about her horse forward of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
Melham rode Half Yours to win the Caulfield Cup final month, cementing the five-year-old gelding because the favorite for the Melbourne Cup.
Forecasts predict loads of rain round Melbourne on Monday and Tuesday and Melham informed ABC Sport’s Summer season Grandstand that it was high quality by her.
“I will do the rain dance on Monday,” she mentioned.
“We’re apparently getting a hell of a number of rain, which goes to swimsuit this horse.
“He loves it; he swims by means of it; he would not want it, however he positively appreciates it.“
Half Yours has seven wins from his 14 profession races, together with final month’s group one Caulfield Cup, and September’s group three Naturalism Stakes, additionally at Caulfield.
The five-year-old is but to run a race over the Melbourne Cup size of three,200 metres, however Melham mentioned she was supremely assured the gap wouldn’t be a problem for Half Yours.
“I realized lots from him within the Caulfield Cup. I needed to get going too quickly, I feel, for the horse,” Melham mentioned.
“He made a very good 500-600m run, and after I received on him within the Naturalism [Stakes], I solely bought out 300m earlier than dwelling, and he was very sharp.
“I feel he’ll positively get the journey if I can simply discover the rail, put him to sleep, and … let that first wave of horses get previous me and simply await the second crack at it.”
If Half Yours wins at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, he could be the twelfth horse to win the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in the identical yr.
With out A FIght was the final horse to realize the feat in 2023.
Melham would even be the second feminine jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Michelle Payne is the one feminine jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, using Prince of Penzance to an upset win in 2015.
