1994 Melbourne Cup : Jeune

Jeune, the striking chestnut son of Kalaglow, etched his name into Australian racing history with a powerful and unexpected victory in the 1994 Melbourne Cup. Originally trained in the UK, Jeune had already made a mark with wins like the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, but it was under the guidance of David Hayes that his potential truly flourished.

The 1994 Melbourne Cup was run in damp conditions for the third consecutive year, with the famous Flemington rails obscured by a sea of umbrellas. Jeune, owned by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Racing, was not considered a top contender at 16/1 odds. Many jockeys, including first-choice Shane Dye, had passed on the ride, doubting the horse’s ability to handle the two-mile distance. Wayne Harris, however, was eager for a chance, having battled back to the saddle after a brain tumour threatened to end his career.

Harris, who referred to himself as ‘Johnny-on-the-spot’, was the one who ultimately took the reins. “I only picked up the ride on the Saturday night when the barrier draw was done,” he recalled. “Two or three jockeys knocked it back.”

Despite Jeune’s reputation for being hard to handle, Harris managed to keep the horse relaxed throughout the race, travelling comfortably midfield. As the field turned for home, Jeune surged forward. Harris found himself in an unexpected position – at the front, far earlier than planned. “My God, what have I done?” he thought, fearing an early move might spell disaster. But Jeune answered all doubts about his stamina with a decisive victory, finishing the race in 3.19.00.

Harris, who had never ridden Jeune until that day, proved that experience and judgement are invaluable. “To think I’d never been on his back before and to jump out and be able to ride him how I wanted to … I think everyone in racing – jockeys, trainers, owners, breeders, strappers … all want to be part of a Melbourne Cup winner and I got my chance on that occasion,” he reflected.

The win was not just a triumph for Harris, but also for David Hayes, who had recently taken over the Lindsay Park operation from his father, Colin Hayes. David’s decision to fit Jeune with pacifiers for the Cup, after a disappointing Cox Plate run, proved to be a masterstroke. Hayes also recognised that Jeune needed a rigorous racing preparation to bring out his best, a strategy that paid
off handsomely.

Jeune’s Melbourne Cup victory was the crowning achievement in a stellar season that included four Group 1 wins and earned him Horse of the Year honours.

But his legacy did not end on the track. In 1996, Jeune was syndicated to stand at Lindsay Park Stud, where he made an immediate impact as a sire. His progeny included several Group winners, most notably the Caulfield Cup-winning Mummify. Jeune’s influence on Australian racing continued through his successful offspring, cementing his status as both a champion racehorse and a prolific sire.

Among his offspring was On A Jeune, who finished second in the 2005 Melbourne Cup, missing out on victory behind Makybe Diva in her historic third Cup win. Jeune passed away in 2006 at the age of 16 from heart failure, but his legacy continues to resonate in Australian racing. Harris helps keep this alive in his role as an ambassador for the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour. He has the opportunity to share his story with new audiences, reliving the joy he felt on that November day in 1994. “It’s something we just wish everyone could have in their life, a day like that,” he said.