The 2013 Melbourne Cup form profile of Godolphin stayer Royal Empire is perfect, according to jockey Kerrin McEvoy who will ride the progressive galloper in ‘the race that stops a nation’ at Flemington next Tuesday.
Kerrin McEvoy will wear the famous Godolphin colours when he rides Royal Empire in the 2013 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Royal Empire has done the majority of his racing between 2000 metres and 2400 metres and McEvoy told Sky Racing HQ that he believes this is the ideal Melbourne Cup form profile for European-trained contenders; rather than contesting the more testing staying events that are prevalent on the English racing calendar.
McEvoy said that Royal Empire’s experience over shorter staying trips means that she has the turn-of-foot that is required to win the Melbourne Cup and feels that there is plenty to like about the Teofilo entire’s lead-up form.
“He is a nice type and has travelled in style,” McEvoy said.
“He has a nice little profile for the race and he has been running well over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half in England.
“His win three starts ago against Red Cadeaux in the Geoffrey Freer was a credible performance and that has been a nice race for Melbourne Cup aspirants.
“Mount Athos ran in it last year and we all know that he was unlucky in the Melbourne Cup.
“He is in nice form and his two runs since he has only been beaten by his stablemates.
“He has beaten a short distance on the all-weather at Kempton and he ran on an unsavory track at Ascot in his last start and didn’t enjoy it.”
McEvoy partnered Royal Empire in a strong track gallop at the International Equine Centre in Werribee for the first time on Tuesday and partnered the four-year-old in a light canter around the track this morning.
The Melbourne Cup winning jockey said that Royal Empire has given him a nice feel each time that he has ridden him and was happy with the acceleration that the Godolphin galloper showed when asked for an extra effort earlier in the week.
“The feel that he gave me on Tuesday morning was good,” McEvoy said.
“He travelled around in style, he is in good health and he did some nice work just be himself down on the inside rail at Werribee.
“He has a turn-of-foot and that is what you need in our Melbourne Cup.”
McEvoy is chasing his first victory in the Melbourne Cup since his memorable victory on Brew in 2000 – the race that originally earnt him the attention of Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
