Kerrin McEvoy chats to Racing Post’s Lee Mottershead about turning 40, Tiger Moth and The Everest
What was your big break?
There’s no doubt it was winning my first Melbourne Cup on Brew. That victory opened the doors to some big races for me and, in particular, it placed me on the radar of Godolphin. I certainly think that without that win I might not have linked up with Godolphin and so I might not have had my time abroad.
It’s the 20th anniversary of that first Melbourne Cup triumph. Are you now a very different person to the young man who won on Brew? And does your Mr Nice Guy image ever bother you?
I would hope I’m a little bit wiser 20 years on but I’m not sure my character has changed much. I like to keep a level-headed approach to everything in life and work. I set out to be friendly and to treat everyone the way I would wish to be treated. That’s an attitude that can take you a long way.
What has been your most memorable day’s racing?
It’s a hard question but I would probably say winning the 2018 Melbourne Cup on Cross Counter for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. When I started working for Godolphin one of my major goals was always to win the Melbourne Cup for the team. To achieve that goal – and also to ride the stable’s first Melbourne Cup winner – was a real pleasure. I knew Charlie Appleby when he was working for Saeed bin Suroor and I had so many good times in those days. To give them such a special moment meant a lot. Even thinking of it now brings a smile to my face.
What has been your greatest disappointment?
I thought long and hard about this but I don’t really have one. Things go wrong in racing, just as they go wrong in life, but you have to learn from them and move on.
You’ve now won both The Everest and Melbourne Cup on three occasions. One is the world’s richest turf race, the other is part of Australia’s DNA. Does winning one mean more than the other?
The Everest is fantastic but the Melbourne Cup has been around for so much longer and it has been watched by the nation for over 150 years. For me, it’s still the top of the tree in terms of Australia’s great races, but it’s amazing how much impact The Everest has had in such a short time.
First prize for The Everest this year was over £3.5 million. When you went past the post on Classique Legend were you thinking about the magnitude of the race or how much money you had just made?
A bit of both! Having said that, the real attraction of these big races is coming out on top against great opposition. The sensation of winning a major horse race is second to none. It’s a fantastic feeling. It was also marvellous for me to be part of Classique Legend’s Australian career. He was unbelievable and showed his amazing turn of foot off a fast pace.
Outside the day job, what are you good at?
I play a bit of golf but swimming is my main pastime and I’m pretty decent. I swim in pools, not open water. I don’t mind the beach but I’m scared of sharks.
And what are you not good at?
Arguing with the wife.
You’ve won a Melbourne Cup for Godolphin and are now going to try to win one for Ballydoyle and Coolmore. Was it an instant yes when you were offered the ride on Tiger Moth and how do you rate his chances?
What really pricked my ears were Ryan Moore’s comments in an interview with Fran Berry after Tiger Moth won at Leopardstown last time. I actually rang Aidan O’Brien myself the very next day and asked to ride the horse in the Cup. I was booked shortly afterwards. I knew Ballydoyle might not be able to get their own jockeys down here and I thought this horse had exactly the right profile for a Melbourne Cup. He was unlucky to be beaten in the Irish Derby and then demolished the field off a fast tempo at Leopardstown. I’m hoping to sit on him over the coming days but the boys in the yard tell me he has travelled over well.
What’s your screensaver?
A picture of my wife and I on a holiday in the Blue Mountains.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?
It would have to be a nice bottle of champagne. Saturday is our main working day of the week, so on Saturday night I can very happily enjoy a couple of slurps.
What’s your food heaven and hell?
I love a nice Japanese meal. Food hell would be a badly made pizza.
What do and don’t you miss from your time living in Britain?
I miss the major meetings like Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood plus having the chance to compete in some of the other major international races, especially the Arc. I don’t miss Martin Dwyer’s silly jokes in the weighing room.
You’ve ridden at the highest level on both sides of the world. When it comes to the top weight-for-age performers, how do Australia’s best horses stack up against the European elite?
It’s well known and acknowledged that our sprinters perform to a high level. From six furlongs up to a mile I would say Australian horses are very competitive against the world’s best. On European soil over further than a mile it becomes much harder for our horses, mainly because they aren’t used to galloping on stiff tracks. That usually brings them undone. Having said that, I really wish they had taken Winx overseas. I believe she would have fared very well indeed and a stiff mile at Ascot would have suited her down to the ground. She would have been extremely hard to beat in the Queen Anne.
Is there one thing about Australian racing that would improve racing here? And vice versa?
Our funding model with the TAB works really well and is hugely beneficial for our prize-money levels, plus in New South Wales there was legislation that requires the corporate bookmakers to put even more money back into the sport. They certainly aren’t just stealing money from racing and walking away with it. British racing would benefit from a similar model. Britain would also benefit from more quality handicaps, for sure. Compared to what you have, many more of our top-class races are handicaps, like the Melbourne Cup and the Doncaster. They aren’t just great from a betting point of view, the public really seem to engage with them because there are so many different opinions.
In terms of things we could take from you, Australian racing goes the whole year round, whereas in Britain there is more of a natural break with the all-weather season in the winter. In Australia we could do with something similar to give everyone a chance to regroup.
You recently enjoyed your 2,000th career success. Did that feel like a really big deal?
It was pretty special. I wasn’t following the numbers too closely but Ray Hickson, one of the scribes down in Sydney, had been counting down for me. Getting there did mean a lot.
You’re celebrating your 40th birthday next weekend. How do you feel about it – and do you think you’ll be doing a Frankie and riding on to your 50th birthday?
Well, I’m not sure about 50! Frankie is still dancing around like an 18-year-old acrobat. I’ll see how I’m going when I get to 45 and then plan from there. I’m not too bothered about turning 40, although it’s a bit of shock to the system – it’s like: “Far out! I’m 40!” I still feel like I’m in my mid-twenties.
What is it about Chris Waller that makes him so good?
His attention to detail on every level is extraordinary. Chris is so particular about everything with every horse, regardless of whether the animal is a Group 1 performer or running in 0-68 races. Given the size of his stable, he does an amazing job with every single horse and closely monitors the progress of each one.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen?
Back in 1996 my now brother-in-law Andrew Payne was riding in a race at Caulfield with Jason Patton, who was already his brother-in-law. Coming off the home bend, Jason’s mount clipped heels and he fell off. That caused Andrew to fall off his horse but he ended up on the back of Jason’s horse. As Andrew pulled up he was shouting to the other jockeys: “This is not my horse! This is not my horse!” They didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.
Who would you love to be for a day?
I love all sports but especially NBA basketball, so I would say LeBron James. I reckon a day in his life would be fantastic.
Finally, who would be your four ideal dinner party guests?
I love the comedy of Jerry Seinfeld and he would make us laugh, so he’s coming. I grew up watching the films of Clint Eastwood and I’m certain he would have some great stories to tell, as would Richard Branson. I love his perspective on work and play. Last but not least, I would love to be sat around a table with Michael Jordan and chatting with the greatest of all time.
Lee Mottershead’s Popping The Questions is available to Racing Post Members’ Club Ultimate subscribers every weekend.