Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip jockey Mark Zahra missed 2021 race drinking too much and suspended

Melbourne Cup-winning  jockey Mark Zahra has revealed how he was drinking heavily in the depths of despair after being suspended and missing out on the winning Cup ride a year ago.

Zahra missed steering 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant to glory after he was suspended for three months over the notorious AirBNB Covid party scandal.

Instead, he watched the race from Byron Bay – and admits he was told he was drinking too much as he drowned his sorrows.

But he redeemed himself on Tuesday when he guided Gold Trip to victory in Australia’s biggest race.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra has revealed how he was drinking heavily and in the depths of despair after being suspended and missing out on the 2021 winning Cup ride

‘This time last year in Byron Bay, I was getting told off for drinking too much and [Verry Elleegant] could have been my ride,’ he admitted after the win.

‘Redemption day today. Just a miracle. 12 months ago I felt terrible and probably drinking my way out of it and [my wife] was saying, “don’t drink too much”. 

‘I said, “What do you want me to do? My horse just won the Melbourne Cup!”

‘For today, to come today – it’s unbelievable.’

Zahra was banned for three months for being at an illicit party in Victoria’ Mornington Pensinsula along with several other jockeys and lying to stewards.

He was the fifth jockey to be banned for breaching Covid restrictions at the party in August 2021, costing him his ride on Verry Elleegant at Flemington.

Emotional Zahra twice let fly an F-bomb live on air as he was being interviewed moments after his victory.

‘The last 50m I was thinking, f***, I’m going to win this!’ he said on Ten’s TV coverage.

‘It just went forever the last bit. And I still can’t believe it. Melbourne Cup, it’s unbelievable. 

‘I literally thought I’m a bit far back here but my one plan was not to be too close because I thought if I spent fuel early I’d be a bit late. 

‘As they jammed up, I got to travel up and up and I thought I’m still travelling so good here. I waited and waited and with the horse, I’ve always said when you go, you’ve got to go. I was righto.

‘It’s just amazing. It’s going to be a good night.’ 

More to come