Can sporting fans around the world name a married couple who compete in the world’s best sprint race, worth $20 million, one week before backing it up in Australia’s most famous weight-for-age contest?
Ben and Jamie Melham are again set to line up on Saturday in the Cox Plate after both taking their places in last Saturday’s Everest at Randwick.
While Jamie will ride three-year-old Blind Raise, Ben will again partner Birdman. Both are $13 with TAB.
Ben told Betsy on Tuesday night that he would begin working through tactics for the Waller-trained five-year-old, who drew barrier one on Tuesday night.
“I’m happy with the barrier and I was happy with his gallop this [Tuesday] morning. Happy with the way he came through his run. That gives you a little bit of confidence and you can rest easy,” he said.
“I don’t really want to be declaring my hand, but he’s drawn well and I’ve got a fit, well horse.
“So I’ll speak to the team and speak to Chris and we’ll work out a plan and see how we go. He’s happy with the order he’s in and he expects him to run well.”
Jamie Melham said on Tuesday night after the barrier draw that the Cox Plate was the one race she grew up wanting to win, a sentiment Ben shares.
The pair have won 45 Group 1s between them – Ben 25 and Jamie 20.
“The Cox Plate’s always been, for whatever reason, it’s been the race I’ve always been, since a young buck, been interested in winning, and always probably found it the most interesting race to watch all year as a young schoolboy,” Ben said.
“Obviously, it’d be a great thrill to be able to win one, and they’re not easy to win. But as I said, I ran second in it one year, but that’s given me some drive to want to put one on the mantelpiece, hopefully we can do that Saturday.”
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So how does a married pair handle not only the pressure of competing in a race watched around the world, but also racing against each other?
Ben said that, if anything, it helped having a partner who understood the extreme demands of racing.
“Not too much changes at home. We were just in the veggie patch yesterday, so home is just normal life. It’s your escape away from racing,” he said.
“But we’re obviously competitors. Come Saturday, we’re still competitors, but all is forgotten at the end of the day.
“We’re sitting down having dinner over a glass of wine.”
