LONDON // Sitting and waiting to speak to Australian jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Blake Shinn has been a fretful experience.
The television screens are on in a restaurant in London’s Chelsea and Australia is capitulating in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
Thankfully, McEvoy has little interest in cricket, and Shinn, who does, has no desire to discuss the match.
Both are more intent on following in the footsteps of compatriot Hugh Bowman and take the crown as top jockey in the Shergar Cup team challenge at Ascot on Saturday night.
The pair join with Japanese rider Yutaka Take to make up the Rest Of The World side.
McEvoy, who has ridden three Ascot winners in his time, walked the track on Wednesday for the first time since he left England in 2008.
Shinn has never ridden the famous course, although he attended the royal meeting last month as a spectator.
“I’ve been lucky enough to ride winners at Ascot before and even before it was redeveloped in 2005 with the old grandstand, which was special,” McEvoy said.
“Ascot is one of my most favourite tracks in the world. It is a lovely big galloping track, a 100 per cent test for both horse and rider.”
England was home to McEvoy when he rode for Godolphin for five seasons before he returned to Australia to ride full-time for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
In September last year he put a wet finger in the wind and realised the direction had changed.
Godolphin was an organisation under significant flux worldwide and McEvoy was not sure about working under their new trainer in Australia, John O’Shea.
McEvoy emailed Sheikh Mohammed and then spoke to O’Shea before he walked out on the biggest racing empire on the planet.
“I’ve had around 18 stakes winners and four Group 1 winners since then, so I am more than happy with my first season freelancing.” McEvoy said.
“It is a different feeling of satisfaction, to be able to secure good mounts yourself and win on them.
“As far as Godolphin are concerned all good things come to an end. I was not first choice for a few horses leading in to that spring, which I found frustrating.
“I thought it was in my best interests to part company. It was a fantastic journey for me and I thank Sheikh Mohammed for letting me on that journey. I feel I have made the right decision.”
McEvoy’s experience mirrors that of Frankie Dettori, who in the final days of his Godolphin career in 2012 found it difficult that he was no longer considered first-choice rider as Mickael Barzalona and Silvestre De Sousa had joined the team.
Later a policy of “best available” was employed but, since McEvoy left, Godolphin have changed tack again.
In November the stable announced James Doyle and William Buick would be retained in Europe and James McDonald in Australia.
Buick has since ridden in Australia and McDonald had a two-month stint this summer in England.
As they do in England, Godolphin also use a roster of other jockeys in Australia that includes Shinn.
Shinn, who was the leading Australian rider last season, shot to prominence in 2008 when he won the Melbourne Cup on Viewed, trained by prominent handler Bart Cummings, just five years after his first ride.
Alongside Take, Japan’s greatest jockey, the trio make a powerful combination as the Rest Of The World Team seeks victory over riders representing Great Britain and Ireland, as well as a Europe team and a women jockeys’ team.
During the royal meeting, Shinn walked the course with fellow Australian rider Craig Williams, one of the best practitioners of that art.
“I think races at Ascot can be quite tactical and Kerrin and Craig have given me a few pointers about how to ride there,” Shinn said.
“That should be a great help and I will also study my horses and hopefully get a good handle on them. Kerrin said be confident, enjoy yourself and don’t go too early.”
These Australians seem certain to represent their country better tonight then the Australian cricketers have managed.
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