Trailblazing McCarthy a legend in and out of the saddle

Named after the Aboriginal jockey who walked tall and rode classic, the Darby McCarthy on the Doomben Cup card is well placed with rugby league’s Indigenous round this week, while the Sydney meeting, which is back at Rosehill after stand-alone Saturdays elsewhere – could unearth some topliners.

The Annabel Neashan-trained Zaaki is the highlight up the north. The eight-year-old veteran is still one of Australia’s best and has impeccable credentials for the feature Doomben Cup but was beaten at $1.25 in the corresponding race last year.

More youthful types can confirm their potential at Rosehill, including Celestial Legend in the Schweppes Handicap for two-year-olds to open proceedings.

“Legend” could apply to the late McCarthy, the Mithaka and Goongurri man who graduated from a Cunnamulla dust bowl in Queensland to an outstanding jockey polished not only in the saddle but on ground level – so much so that Gough Whitlam was prompted to comment that when he quit riding he should go into politics. The storied McCarthy was a great advocate for his people. He was one of the few hoops to take the AJC Derby-Epsom double (1969) at Randwick. The issue arose as to whether he should be referred to as an Aboriginal jockey or just a jockey. McCarthy, though, insisted he carry the title and wore it proudly.

After McCarthy quit riding, he became a pacemaker for the First Nations cause when it was hardly fashionable.

“I learned some precious lessons from Darby, who taught me in his own charismatic and crazy way what it takes to be a real contender, to rise above everyone else to be your very best,” Cathy Freeman said in Against All Odds, the McCarthy biography by Lauren Callaway.

“He may not realise this, but Darby influenced and encouraged me to strive for excellence in all that I do, and persevere against the odds, and for this I’ll be forever thankful.”

On horseback none were better than McCarthy. Alas he put his arm through a plate glass door – another story – after which he was still very good but lost the touch between outstanding and champion.

Perhaps Eagle Farm was his happy hunting ground, considering his three Stradbrokes, but Doomben, which will be rain-affected today for Zaaki, also came into his scope of excellence.

The great uncertainty of racing, and particularly hot favourites, was emphasised by Zaaki last year. Being even-money shy and looking for a better gamble, the Chris Waller-trained Atishu ($10) appeals. She was not suited by a negative tempo when back in the field and sixth to Zaaki over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast last start.

Atishu will require finesse early and clout late from Nash Rawiller to get her home in a testing contest in which stablemate Kovalica, being an untapped three-year-old, adds youthful spice.

Waller produced Kandinsky Abstract, which made his $3 million purchase price look cheap when winning at Canterbury on debut recently, but the effort wasn’t greatly superior to runner-up Celestial Legend, which takes on other promising youngsters at Rosehill.