It’s not just about the horses that take to the 3200m trip around Flemington on Tuesday – the 24 jockeys will have a huge part to play in the ‘race that stops the nation’.
Stephen Brassel of Punters.com.au counts down all the jockeys, ranking them from 24th to 1st!
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24 – MARK DU PLESSIS (Magical Lagoon)
Vastly experienced jockey who has ridden at nearly 80 different tracks across New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Winner of 16 Group 1 races with the latest being the Auckland Cup back in 2015.
23 – CRAIG NEWITT (Virtuous Circle)
Ridden in over 400 Group 1 races and as a natural lightweight can be a ‘go to man’ come Cup time. He’s a 33-time Group 1 winner with his last success back in 2016 when taking out the Moir Stakes on Extreme Choice.
22 – BEN THOMPSON (True Marvel)
Been riding less than 10 years and recorded his first Group 1 winner in the Oakleigh Plate earlier this year. He’s in form winning 7 times in his past 23 rides including a double at Eagle Farm on Saturday but this is the biggest assignment he’s ever had and on a longshot.
21 – KOHEI MATSUYAMA (Breakup)
Japanese rider who last won a Group 1 in 2021 taking out the Champions Cup at Chukyo. His recent form back home has been solid with eight winners from his last 50 rides and his overall Group 1 record is confined to Japan where has ridden five winners from 132 rides.
20 – BEAU MERTENS (Magical Lagoon)
Broke through for his first Group 1 success aboard Attrition in the Toorak Handicap last month. Has three other placings in the top races from 34 cracks and this is his biggest occasion yet.
19 – BILLY EGAN (Vow And Declare)
Cracked it for his first Group 1 aboard Dunkel in the SA Derby in the winter and only had 13 rides at that level but also has a couple of placings against his name. Had eight rides at Flemington on Saturday, mainly on roughies for one placing.
18 – TEO NUGENT (Interpretation)
Only had eight Group 1 rides and landed one winner dead-heating on Portland Sky in the 2021 Oakleigh Plate however did run third last year in the Cup on High Emocean. Only recently returned to the saddle after a fall in March and landed his first metro winner for the season recently at Moonee Valley.
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17- DYLAN GIBBONS (Okita Soushi)
Has had a spectacular rise through the ranks as an apprentice finishing third in the Sydney jockeys premiership and only just nudged out by Zac Lloyd for the apprentices title. Won his first Group 1 earlier this year in the 3200m Sydney Cup.
16 – DANIEL STACKHOUSE (Daqiansweet Junior)
Prolific winner and led the overall Victorian jockeys last season with 127 winners however yet to taste success at Group 1 level in 50 rides so it’s about time he landed one. You don’t win as many races as he does without being a good hoop.
15 – ZAC LLOYD (Kalapour)
He’s still an apprentice and yet to ride a Group 1 winner from 10 rides at that level but he’s a super talent and won the Sydney apprentices title with 76 winners, second only to James McDonald. Don’t worry about him and the big occasion
14 – HOLLIE DOYLE (Future History)
Highly regarded English rider with just under 900 career wins including eight Group 1 races and three this year. Don’t have too many concerns with her despite the fact she’s riding in Australia for the first time.
13 – RACHEL KING (Military Mission)
Fresh off the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes win on Ozzmosis she’s ridden three Group 1 winners this year having won the Tancred and Metropolitan as well. She’s in form winning at 20% in her past 25 rides and has ridden in the past two Cups.
12 – JYE McNEIL (Serpentine)
Winner of four Group 1 races but also winner of the biggest of them all – the Melbourne Cup – when he turned in a daring ride leading all the way on Twilight Payment in 2020. His recent record is just two winners from his last 50 mounts though but certainly up to the occasion.
11 – JOHN ALLEN (Right You Are)
Won a couple of Group 1 races in Adelaide earlier this year taking his record to 19 at the top level. Has a wonderful record in staying races including successive Australian Derby wins in 2021 and 2022.
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10 – MICHAEL DEE (Cleveland)
Rode his first winner at Stratford in NZ but gone on to become one of Australia’s most sought after lightweight riders with 11 Group 1 winners. Last season was a big breakthrough for him winning five at the elite level including the Caulfield Cup, Australian Guineas and Victoria Derby.
9 – KERRIN MCEVOY (Ashrun)
Gets a massive tick as the three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup (2000, 2016, 2018). Invariably bring his A-game to Flemington on the big days and whatever he’s riding must be respected.
8 – JAMIE KAH (More Felons)
She’s back! The nine-time Group 1 winning hoop looked to be off her game a touch after a few setbacks but on Saturday that turned around with a winning double on Derby day. She won the Victorian jockeys premiership in 2020-21 with 105 winners.
7 – CRAIG WILLIAMS (Lastotchka)
Has had 18 rides in the great race and landed the prize in 2019 aboard Vow And Declare so certainly understands what it’s all about. No dramas with the pressure cooker as a 74-time Group 1 winner.
6 – DAMIEN OLIVER (Alenquer)
He may be retiring but Ollie is still one of the greats. He’s won an Australian record 129 Group 1 races and he’s pushing 3200 career wins at a 16% strike rate. He rode a double on Saturday and the fire still burns. He might be riding a longshot but underestimate the champ at your peril.
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5 – ZAC PURTON (Absurde)
The Aussie has been a superstar in Hong Kong for many years now but his returns for the Melbourne Cup have failed to bear fruit so far. Fourth has been his best finish so far but he’ll give his mount every chance. Won three Group 1 races in Sydney during the autumn and ridden 42 Group 1 winners overall from 191 rides at an outstanding strike rate of 22%.
4 – JOAO MOREIRA (Soulcombe)
This will have to be one of the ‘magic man’s’ best if he can get the quirky Soulcombe home. He has a shocking habit of missing the start but Moreira is a genius at the barriers. He’s won seven Group 1 races in Australia including three this year. He lobs in Melbourne on a hot streak having won 10 races over two days in Japan over the weekend.
3 – MARK ZAHRA (Without A Fight)
Been there, done that and riding in the form of his life. Won the Cup last year on Gold Trip and had the choice of rides plonking for Without A Fight on Tuesday due to the dry track. Has 27 Group 1 wins and he’s on a massive roll at present having cleaned up the Caulfield Cup.
2 – JAMES McDONALD (Gold Trip)
He’s a champion without question and with 83 Group wins he’s on track to become the all time No. 1 in that category. He knows what it takes to win the big race having won the Cup on Verry Elleegant in 2021 and he’s in form having won the Victoria Derby and Cox Plate the last two weekends and nine so far this year.
1 – RYAN MOORE (Vauban)
Many believe there’s no better rider in the world and it’s hard to argue. He’s won 187 Group 1 races and 19 this year alone, including two at the Breeders Cup meeting at Santa Anita over the weekend. He won the Cup in 2014 on Protectionist and rarely makes a mistake.
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