Kerrin McEvoy joked in the press in the days prior to the Melbourne Cup that he would buy his wife a new house if he was to win the famous race for a third time.
And moments after saluting aboard Cross Counter, McEvoy said he would be true to his word.
"I did promise a swimming pool, then Cathy and myself have been looking for a bigger house. I said to one of the Herald Sun reporters yesterday that if I won I'd buy Cathy a new house. So look out," he said.
Only weeks after winning the biggest cheque in racing aboard Redzel in The Everest, McEvoy added another Melbourne Cup to his already impressive CV.
The likeable jockey won his first Melbourne Cup back in 2000 aboard Brew and his second on Almandin in 2016.
But winning Australia's most famous race in the colours of Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed is extremely satisfying for McEvoy, considering he spent many years as a retained rider for the global racing powerhouse.
"I said to my wife Cathy they (Godolphin) are going to win it one year, I'm lucky enough to team up with this man, we've had some luck in previous carnivals and we have been lucky enough to do it again," he said.
"The third Melbourne Cup is a huge moment in my career, to win three is amazing."
McEvoy's association with Godolphin ignited the day he rode Beekeeper in the Melbourne Cup, finishing third behind Media Puzzle in 2002.
It was that day he was noticed by the Godolphin hierarchy and he spent many years travelling the globe riding as the No.2 behind Frankie Dettori.
"The day was sponsored by Dubai Racing Club, that was the day I rode four winners, I won the trip away and rode four winners and that put my name under the nose of Sheikh Mohammed and rode for them later in that spring late in 2002, that is where it all started," he said.
"I went to Dubai, expected to be there for two weeks and ended up staying for the whole carnival, that was the carnival of 2003, that is where the association started.
"It feels very warm inside knowing I've done it with the help of all the guys that have helped me along the way."
McEvoy only confirmed his booking on Cross Counter in recent weeks and had a choice to make after partnering Youngstar throughout her preparation for Chris Waller.
"His run style appealed to me, he was only lightly raced, he looked like he had an old head on young shoulders and that was proven to me when I sat on him the other morning," he said.
"With 51kg he was unknown in the ground, he was unknown in the two miles but I was lucky to have a horse still full of running at the 400m, it was a tough call but my gut was telling me to go that way and I'm glad I did now."
