NEWCASTLE’S gun apprentice Dylan Gibbons will ride in the Melbourne Cup for the first time.
“It’s pretty exciting,” the 22-year-old said en route home from today’s Scone meeting, where he rode a double for his boss, trainer Kris Lees, on Invincible Whip ($2.70) and Lunartie($3.50 favorite).
Gibbons has secured the mount on overseas visitor Okita Soushi for young Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien in Tuesday week’s $8.4m Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
O’Brien has already won the great race twice, with Rekindling (Corey Brown) in 2017 and Twilight Payment (Jye McNeil) in 2020.
“I started looking at the Melbourne Cup weights a couple of days ago for horses around the 51.5kg mark (Okita Soushi’sweight),” Gibbons said.
“Horses such as Ashrun (raced by Australian Bloodstock) and Cleveland (trained by Lees) have that weight.
“Kerrin McEvoy rode Okita Soushi when he ran 12th in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, and was confirmed as Ashrun’sCup rider once he made the field by finishing second in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup.
“Kerrin gave a strong push for me to get the ride on Okita Soushi.”
Gibbons intends to fly to Melbourne next Saturday night after the $10m Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill Gardens to prepare for his Cup debut.
“Kris has horses in Melbourne, and I will be able to ride work on the Monday morning.
“I don’t expect I will have the chance to get a feel of Okita Soushi before the Cup.”
A six-year-old son of noted staying influence Galileo, Okita Soushi has raced only 13 times for four wins and five placings.
He won over 2414m at the Royal Ascot meeting in June before finishing third in the Irish St Leger (2816m) at The Curragh in August.
Okita Soushi is a $51 chance with TAB.com.au for the Cup, and is currently 24th (24 can run) in order of entry for the famous two-miler.
“I’m sure they would not have bought the horse to Australia if they didn’t feel he was a good chance of winning the race,” Gibbons said.
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