For Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan, the Gunnedah Cup brings up ‘good and bad memories’, with the race costing him a shot at Group 1 glory over 20 years ago.
McLellan famously rode the John Hawkes-trained Lonhro to victory in the 2001 Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm.
That same year, he fell on the late Paul Goodwin’s Grey Flash just before the running of the Gunnedah Cup – won by the Tim Martin-trained Clear’ N Out (Hugh Bowman, $3) – meaning McLellan would miss an opportunity to jump aboard the John Hawkes-trained Viscount.
“It’s definitely good and bad memories at Gunnedah,” McLellan laughed.
“I got bucked off this grey horse in the cup back in the early 2000s and broke both my wrists, and I was meant to ride Viscount but couldn’t, and Kerrin McEvoy got the ride.”
McLellan has spent a little bit of time riding at Gunnedah, but he admitted that times are changing, and more and more jockeys are heading bush for opportunities.
“I could count on both hands the times I’ve ridden at Gunnedah,” McLellan said.
“I obviously didn’t go around in that cup after breaking my wrists and never went there for years and years, but it is now a normal meeting that we go to.”
On Sunday, McLellan will get his chance at redemption when jumping aboard the Kris Lees-trained Rogue Bear ($10) in the 2023 Gunnedah Cup (1600m).
The five-year-old is a three-time winner and has recently contested challenging events at Hawkesbury and Royal Randwick, and from gate 1, McLellan likes his chances.
“I’ve ridden him in a trial, and I think his runs have been solid enough, and from gate 1, he’s in with a chance to run a good race,” McLellan said.
“I just thought he could have been better in at the weights (61kg); he is only a small horse, but I’m not saying he can’t carry the weight either, and we’ll just have to wait and see.”
McLellan has a good book of rides at Gunnedah, and he jumps aboard the Justin Bowen-trained Upside ($15) in the Lightning Handicap (1000m).
The Muswellbrook galloper is a six-time winner, and last preparation, she put in a terrific effort, finishing third to Ice In Vancouver in the $75,000 Skellatar at Muswellbrook.
“I think she likes a bit of a back-up, and she can run a good race,” McLellan said.
“After she ran at Dubbo last prep, she backed up quickly and won at Muswellbrook, then put in that really good run (in the Skellatar), so if she lives up to that, she’ll go close.”
McLellan, now 52, has enjoyed a storied career in the saddle, winning over 1600 races.
A two-time Group 1 winning jockey, who’s registered 14 Group and 14 Listed race victories, Digger has endured some battles, but he now lives in Newcastle, riding trackwork for Kris Lees and racing all over the state.
Digger’s been riding well this season, too, with the veteran even bringing up a double at Taree on Monday.
“I am still enjoying it,” McLellan said.
“I still ride well, but I don’t quite get the support I did when I rode in my younger time, but I’m really enjoying it and still doing it, and I still believe that I give every chance a winning hope.”
As always, it shapes to be a massive day at Gunnedah, with the feature race a qualifier for the $3 million Big Dance and $500,000 Little Dance.
Racing kicks off at 12.15pm, and for McLellan’s rides and the Gunnedah fields, click here.
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