Melbourne Cup jockey cap in honor of the late Colonel McKenna

There will be more emotions Melbourne Cup day next Tuesday, from Interpretation he now wears a special royal blue and green cap in honor of the galloper’s late great co-owner Colonel McKenna.

McKenna’s royal blue and lime green silks were worn by the star horses, as in 2016. Caulfield Cup winner Jameka.

McKenna, a respected businessman and renowned horse breeder and owner, died last Sunday after a short battle with health.

Ciaron MaherThe trained Interpreter, who is preparing for his third Melbourne Cup appearance, usually races in Ozzie Haire’s colours, but Haire said the Cup would feature a new cap in McKenna’s honour.

READ: McKenna’s wife opens up about racing giant’s emotional final journey

“As an ownership group, we thought this would be a fitting gesture in honor of a wonderful man who gave so much to people in and outside of racing,” Hair said.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to spend as much time with Cole as other members of the (owner) group, but all my interactions with him were always fun and interesting, and I had great respect for him as a person.

“With Ciaron Maher training the interpretation and Cole being part of the ownership group, it would be fantastic if this horse could do the honors on Tuesday and hopefully bring some joy to Cole’s family and loved ones.”

Interpretation is a $17 chance as the seven-year-old gelding prepares for his third Melbourne Cup race but faces another check by vets on Friday after he was not declared fit to race on Thursday.

Interpretation jockey Theo Nugent will wear a cap in the colors of the late Colonel McKenna in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

An interpretation that quickly took second place to the dominant Geelong Cup winner and holder of the Melbourne Cup One smooth operatorwhich will feature Theo Nugent in the Melbourne Cup.

Meanwhile, Jamie Ka will not bear any additional pressure or burden of expectations while riding Another Wil in honor of McKenna on Flemington on Saturday.

Months before his death, Col McKenna told News Corp that he believed Other Wil would be his next good horse and that the sky was the limit for the exciting Ciaron Maher-trained gelding.

Ka and Another Wheel have had a fruitful partnership and on Saturday the star jockey linked with Another Wheel where he is the $3 second choice in the Group 2. Damien Oliver (1400 m) at Flemington.

READ: ‘I will remember him forever’: Ka pays tribute to Colin McKenna

Janice McKenna, speaking earlier this week, said she had assured Ka there was no added pressure for the colonel to win.

“I was talking to Jamie and she said, ‘Oh Janice, I have to win this race,'” Janice McKenna said.

“I said, ‘Honey, if you don’t win, Cole won’t be disappointed.’

“Cole loved Jamie so much that he could talk to her about anything.

“It was a little bit like Cole and Guy Waterhouse I would say every other morning.

“Cole was the only person Guy knew she could call at 4:30 in the morning.

“Guy sent me a lovely message the other day and it meant a lot.”

McKenna, 74, died after being diagnosed with a brain tumor just two weeks earlier, prompting an outpouring of grief in the racing community where he was a much-loved figure.

Ka described Colin and Janice McKenna as “two of the most incredible people” and said she would always try to make them proud.