Zahra had picked his means by way of the sector from effectively again, following Younger Werther into the race from the 1200m. It was a matter of protecting his momentum provided that Gold Journey had solely received one among his 15 begins and was run down late by Durston within the Caulfield Cup.
“I felt the winner a good distance out,” Zahra stated. “I used to be simply ready for D Lane [Young Werther] to go. Clearly he’s a fantastic jockey and he didn’t go too early, and I waited.
“With this horse I’ve all the time stated that whenever you go you’ve obtained to go, as a result of I’ve run a number of seconds on him. I used to be like ‘proper ohhhh!’ after which I used to be considering, ‘I’ve obtained a good method to go right here’.”
Gold Journey ($19) launched from the highest of straight and loomed on the skin of favorite Deauville Legend ($4.60), which hadn’t come off the bridle however couldn’t match the flip of foot of the topweight.
Gold Journey put a profitable hole on his rivals with Emissary ($26) and Excessive Emocean ($51) operating into the minor cash.
“We in all probability obtained to the entrance a bit early, however that’s the finest he has let down for me,” Zahra stated. “It’s what these trainers [Ciaron Maher and David Eustace] do – they’ve the horse proper on the massive day.
“He has simply spot-on for today and was good.
“That final 100, I used to be considering simply piss off and nobody come close to me. Elation, simply elation throughout the road.”
Zahra and Maher shared a bond once they had been apprentices at Lindsay Park 20 years in the past; now they’re Melbourne Cup winners collectively.
However Zahra saved particular reward for three-time Melbourne Cup profitable jockey Glen Boss, who constructed his confidence over Gold Journey after his luckless ninth within the Cox Plate.
“He picked it straight off the Cox Plate. He was so assured. Extra assured than me apparently,” Zahra stated. “That in all probability gave me a little bit of confidence too.
“Bossy was ringing me the opposite day going, ‘that is the one’ and I stated I’m already on it, and he was ringing me final night time telling me the way to trip it. I stated, ‘I’ve obtained this Bossy, I’ve obtained this.’
And he did.
