Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy will carry a Band-Aid on his nose at Hawkesbury on Saturday after having a sun spot cut out and wants to spread the word for jockeys to get checked.
![Cancer check: Jockey Kerrin McEvoy returns on Almandin after wining the Melbourne Cup](http://web.archive.org./web/20170808091021im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/w/d/2/1/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvuoza.png/1493388384188.jpg)
McEvoy, a father of three, won the Melbourne Cup on Almandin last year and has been riding in the peak of form this season collecting another five group 1 wins but realised no one is invincible.
"It is something so simple that you don't think about. I think everyone should be getting checked by a doctor [for skin cancers]," McEvoy said. "The three I'm getting cut out are only as a precaution but it hit home."
After watching last nights show I've booked myself in tmrw ... who is joining me ? #sun #healthcheck https://t.co/i1ILHWBp25
— Kerrin McEvoy (@KPMcEvoy) April 20, 2017
He only went for his skin check after watching Melbourne AFL assistant coach Craig Jennings talk about his battle with melanoma on television.
"I basically sat down to watch AFL 360 and he came on and talked about how close he had come to not finding out about his cancer until it was too late," McEvoy said. "The AFL had sent a reminder to all the clubs about coaches getting checked after Jarryd Roughead's [was found to have a melanoma].
"He had put it off, put it off and put it off and it was nearly too late.
"It just really hit home. I was sitting on the couch watching it with the boys and thought there was no reason why I should not get looked at because I have got fair skin and a lot of freckles and moles.
 "I had not been properly checked in five or six years. Sure enough they found a couple. I have had one off my nose burnt off and there are two more to get cut out as a precaution.
"They are not cancer but it is still important to have them removed.
"It is a real reminder and a wake-up call – there probably are a lot of people in the same boat. It is so easy to go and see a doctor and get checked.
"We as jockeys spent a lot of time out in the sun, so we have to be aware of it."
McEvoy had the sun spot on his nose cut out last week and will see the doctor on Monday to get two sun spots removed.
"It is simple process but an important one," McEvoy said.
It has not affected McEvoy riding, he won Noire at Canterbury on Wednesday and has a good book of rides at Hawkesbury, including Spright in Saturday's Hawkesbury Guineas.
He has an unbeaten record on the filly after winning on her at Rosehill during spring before taking a group 3 sprint on Oaks Day at Flemington and got a feel of her on Tuesday morning.
"She has probably been looking for a firm track and it is what she is going to get," McEvoy said. "She certainly has a bit of talent and has the home track advantage and worked well there the other morning."
Spright's trainer Garry Frazer has been happy with his filly since her fourth in the Arrowfield Sprint at The Championships last start.
"Kerrin knows the filly well, and we're delighted to have him back on her," Frazer said."She has come up with an inside draw in the Guineas and back on a good track she will run really well."
The ultimate racing form guide with free tips, live odds and alerts for all racing. Â