Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Self-confessed “battler” Harry Coffey will live out a long-held dream when he steers Ciaron Maher-trained Light Infantry Man in the $6 million Cox Plate.
The 31-year-old jockey, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six weeks old, always hoped he would secure a ride in the nation’s weight-for-age championship.
But it falls against a strange backdrop, with Saturday’s Group 1 feature to be run at Flemington while its traditional home at Moonee Valley undergoes a major redevelopment.
“It’s going to be unusual to be part of such a great event and my first time riding in it, but it not be where you grow up seeing it,” Coffey said.
“I loved Moonee Valley as a kid and still did until it shut down. I was at the Cox Plate last year and watched it live.
“It was almost sad seeing it go, then 12 months later to be riding in it is going to be very different … but I haven’t got focused on that sort of thing.
“I’ve just got to be there and execute riding my mount well. Hopefully he runs to his best and if he does, he’ll be there in the finish.”
Coffey witnessed fellow hoop James McDonald snare a record-equalling fourth consecutive Cox Plate triumph last year – the Kiwi’s second in succession aboard mighty mare Via Sistina.
At that stage, Coffey felt some way off jagging his own ride in Australia’s highest-quality race.
That all changed when he steered Light Infantry Man to Australian Cup glory in March, repeating Ethan Brown’s success from last year.
“When you have a little bit of luck and you’re in good form you always think you’ll be thereabouts for the big days,” Coffey said.
“To look back 12 months ago and think I’d be on a horse that would be going well enough to run in a Cox Plate, I didn’t really have that at the time.
“But when he won the Australian Cup in the autumn, you sort of think, ‘Geez, that could work out well if he comes back well and I could get back on him’.
“That’s sort of how it’s all panned out.”
McDonald will chase an unprecedented fifth consecutive victory as a jockey when he rides Aeliana for Chris Waller, who also saddles up Birdman in his quest for a record-equalling seventh overall win as a trainer.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Sir Delius ($4.40) is a narrow favourite from Aeliana ($4.80), with Warwoven ($5.50), Ceolwulf ($7) and Cosmic Crusader ($8) rounding out the top five.
Birdman is a $12 fancy, with Light Infantry Man further back at $23.
“There’s class everywhere and there’s unknowns everywhere,” Coffey said.
“I’m not going out there set in stone thinking there’ll be one certain horse coming with me, albeit I loved the run of Aeliana in the Turnbull (Stakes).
“She looks like she’ll be peaking on the day and she’s just been trending the right way.
“But with that being said, she was still a little bit off Light Infantry Man and my bloke still had good improvement after the Turnbull.
“We all talk about these horses will be peaking for their grand final and my fella’s no different.”
Coffey is aiming to give leading trainer Maher more major success in Melbourne, after the pair combined to win the 2024 Caulfield Cup with Duke De Sessa.
“He’s pretty laid back and that sort of suits me,” Coffey said of Maher.
“He reckons jockeys don’t need too many instructions.”
