By Michael Lynch
Luke Currie has taken 20 years to become an "overnight" sensation.
The Tasmanian-born rider has long called Victoria home, and for most of his career he has been one of racing's unsung heroes, a well-regarded rider who gets his share of winners but is rarely sighted on the big days.
Jockey Luke Currie kisses trainer Tony McEvoy after Hey Doc won the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images
Currie had to travel far and wide throughout his career to try to find some big paydays, going overseas to ride in Mauritius, Singapore and Malaysia while the bigger names hogged the major winners in Melbourne during the carnivals.
But things have taken a marked turn for the better in the past 12 months as the 35-year-old adopted a different strategy, deciding to ride more trackwork and develop relationships with bigger stables rather than chase race rides all over the state at provincial meetings.
It has paid off big time: in 2016 he won only the second group one race of his career when he steered home Suavito for Nigel Blackiston to win the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield, more than 12 years after punching home his first on the outsider Roman Arch in the Toorak Handicap during the Caulfield Cup carnival of 2003
And on Saturday he did it again, piloting Hey Doc to victory in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington for trainer Tony McEvoy, following up for the same employer 40 minutes later when he cajoled Big Memory to stick his head down on the line and win for the first time in almost three years in the Roy Higgins Quality.
The burgeoning relationship with McEvoy has made all the difference to Currie. Riding work for the former Lindsay Park handler puts him in pole position for race rides, and he is taking every chance he gets.
"Its the biggest race I have won in 20 years of riding," Currie said after his triumph.
"It's my first group one at Flemington, I might not have another opportunity. Tony has been great to me and given me the chance in these big races.
"I went to Malaysia a few times, I have been to Singapore, but my latest stints have been in Mauritius. I rode a couple of Group One winners in Mauritius, but this one is better than anything.
"I go in there (to McEvoy's yard) and ride work. He has bigger owners who choose to put higher-profile jockeys on, but Tony is always kicking up for me. I am going in there and doing the work and I think I can get the job done as well as anyone."
McEvoy made it clear how much he values Currie's input when Hey Doc won at Flemington in his lead-up race for the Guineas.
"Luke is a very good rider, I am surprised more people don't use him, he works hard, he's a very good person, he's got a great judge of pace and he has great balance. I am very happy to use him and I wish more people used him as well."