And it would be another feature win for Harry Coffey who put himself in the headlines this season recording a memorable victory on the Ciaron Maher trained imported galloper Duke De Sessa in the Caulfield Cup-Gr.1, 2400m.
THE DARING AND MASTERFUL HARRY COFFEY After a ride that was described by media as "daring" and "masterful," Harry was welcomed back to scale by a delighted crowd fully appreciative of the amazing story that is Harry Coffey. At just six weeks of age diagnosed with the debilitating condition cystic fibrosis, Harry did not have the easiest of childhoods but it is, he said "all I have ever known." "It's not like I was well and look back and think about the days when I felt better and ask 'why me?' - it has just always been my life." With the considerable support of a tight-knit family including his parents Maree and Austy Coffey (a popular Swan Hill based trainer), Harry was lovingly encouraged to live his life to the full. He played sports, he rode horses. And he became an apprentice jockey. "It is fair to say," he said, "that if not for cystic fibrosis I would not have become a jockey." "My brother Sam is a lot taller and heavier than me," he said, explaining that "cystic fibrosis effects weight and growth so not only did it enable me to start my career as a jockey, but it keeps me very ➤ light which gives me lots of opportunities." Inspiring in the ability to appreciate the path he is on, Harry would of course prefer to be healthier even if it meant another career, though with his love of horses it is likely he'd still be involved in some way. "I'd much prefer not to have cystic fibrosis, I would not wish it on any one," he said. Whilst he was young his parents lived with the knowledge that Harry's lifespan may not be a full one but recent medical advances have improved not only his life expectancy but also his every day quality of life; a drug called Trikafta being hailed as somewhat of a miracle drug. It is not a cure but when it works it slows down progression and improves symptoms. And, amazingly, it kicks in almost immediately. "It was still pretty new as a treatment and it was serious stuff, so I spent a few days in hospital as it was being administered." "The first day was rough," he said, recalling the experience of his lungs ridding themselves of all that lurked in them. "I was absolutely exhausted from all the coughing as my body was changing and adapting but I was breathing a whole lot more easily." The lockdown periods during the heights of COVID were challenging times for Harry whose doctor advising that "if you can hide yourself away, do it!"
134
\ TOO DARN FAST \ KRISTEN MANNING
"We didn't really know what was happening at the time, it was pretty scary." But with Harry's ability to see the silver linings in clouds, he made the most of that time; becoming engaged to his girlfriend Tayla, buying a farm at Swan Hill and "re-evaluating what I wanted out of life." "Dad got a few more horses in to keep us busy so I was riding in the mornings. My brother Sam came home from university so for a while it was just like old times, we were kids again!"
A BETTER RIDER "I gained clarity from that time and came out of it more settled, more mature. And a better rider." And now Harry is not only a Group 1 jockey (his first being the 2018 Australasian Oaks-Gr.1, 2005m aboard Sopressa), but also a dad, a role he is thoroughly enjoying; "it is so much fun!" he said. "My wife does the bulk of the work, she is the heart and soul of parenting. I am away a lot which is tough, I just want to be home with them." Becoming a dad was another challenge for Harry with cystic fibrosis which effects the reproductive system. Thomas (born in May 2023) being an IVF baby, both of his parents requiring procedures which "were not at all nice!" But what is nice for Harry is seeing the love poured on his son from his family, taking great pleasure out of seeing his parents doting on their grandson. And they are enjoying Harry's triumphs on the track, Austy telling the media that "it was a big moment for us, our biggest moment ever in racing, for sure." Hopefully there are further big moments to come with Harry's association with Arabian Summer. He has been aboard for all six of her starts and is looking forward to seeing what she can do during her Queensland summer campaign. "She has been a lot of fun," he said, admiring the qualities that see her reserve her energy for the races. "She is quite unassuming, in fact she is so cruisy that on the way to the gates you wonder if she is going to wake up for the race!" "But when the gates open she is a different horse." When asked what she is like to ride, Harry replied "she is fast, that's what she's like!" "She may be small but she is strong through the chest and with her attitude, she makes my job easy." n HOOFNOTE: it is fitting that Arabian Summer has ended up such a good Magic Millions horse. One of the 85 members of Too Darn Hot's debut crop, she hails from the family of the company's first major race winner; Snippets so memorably taking out the inaugural Magic Millions two-yearold race in 1987 by four lengths.