There may be a few battling emotions in the Wimmera on Tuesday, when the region's Melbourne Cup hopeful, Surprise Baby, competes against veteran Horsham jockey Dean Yendall.
The lightweight hoop has booked the ride on Cup outsider Oceanex, trained by Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr.
The five-year-old mare is a $71 bet in some markets, having drawn barrier 17.
Oceanex - who placed in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last week -booked her place in the Cup in May when she won the golden-ticket Ramsden Stakes.
There were concerns Yendall might not even get the chance to ride, when Oceanex presented with foot issues and lameness in the right leg late last week.
Racing Victoria vets cleared the galloper for competition on Friday.
Yendall has been in the thick of the action during Cup week, riding to a third-place finish in the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day.
MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE WIMMERA:
Yendall guided the three-year-old Forbidden Love, trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, masterfully to finish only 0.6L behind the winner.
"She ran super. The brothers in arms (Chica Feurte), we sat outside it, just off it. We over-raced a little bit, but I spoke to Tommy Berry and he said she can do that, but don't rub her out," he said.
"She ended up settling really well. The leader stopped and left me in front, but she was good to the line."
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Matt Currill
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
