Bill West
Heavyweight jockey Arron Lynch re-wrote the record books in stunning fashion by riding the first five winners at the Hanging Rock race meeting on New Year’s Day.
It was a race day where ‘Lynch Law’ reigned supreme, with three of Arron’s five winners being trained at Murray Bridge in South Australia by his older brother Garret Lynch – the state’s leading country trainer last season.
Racing at Hanging Rock has thrown up many remarkable stories over generations, and Sunday will rank very highly among them.
Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club representatives were adamant Arron Lynch’s feat was unmatched at the unique venue that hosts two meetings per year, the next being Hanging Rock Cup Day on Australia Day.
As an apprentice, evergreen hoop Damien Oliver rode five winners at a Kyneton meeting on February 2, 1993.
Race club president Greg Janky said Lynch’s performance was remarkable, with all his mounts being ridden confidently for good winning margins.
Club general manager Jon Dight was also praiseworthy, and said the club was pleased with an attendance in the region of 2700.
“I would like to welcome all to Hanging Rock. May it be a terrific year for everyone here,” Janky said in opening formalities after the running of the Carlton Draught Maiden Plate over 1800 metres.
Quietly Spoken, the first of the three winners where the Lynch brothers combined, won by 4.5 lengths, and it was the same jockey-trainer success when Epaulette Prince scored by 2.5 lengths in the Midland Express BM52 Handicap.
Arron Lynch made it a treble with two lengths to spare on Tuck Truck in the Cams Security Maiden.
Trained at Kilmore by Jody Thompson, the very speedy Avid General then blitzed the field to score by five lengths with Lynch aboard in the Miranda Park Stan Nicholls Sprint over 1000 metres, almost breaking the course record in the process.
Could the in-form jockey make it five in a row?
He was aboard topweight Swankytoff, a seven-year-old having his 51st start with five wins to his credit, from the Garret Lynch stable.
A superlative ride saving heaps of ground enabled Swankytoff to hit the front in the last 100 metres to win by a length and a half in the Tony McMahon BM58 Hndicap.
Spectator applause was plentiful, and well deserved.
While there were plenty of betting fluctuations with bookmakers and on the on-course tote, official prices (in order) for the winners were $3.60, $3.70, $4.60, $4, and $2.60.
Could Lynch ride the card with one race left? It was not to be.
He was aboard Swan Hill galloper Wenner who never looked to be a winning chance, with the Bruce Jones Memorial Handicap going to topweight and favourite Serenaur, ridden by veteran John Keating who has a good record at ‘The Rock’. The Mick Sell-trained Hugo Loves Vegas was runner-up.
Serenaur’s win resulted in the on-course Punters’ Club returning a $34 dividend for each ticketholder.
Throughout the very warm afternoon, club representatives emphasised the value of the loyal sponsors for the local club.
Dight said it was pleasing there were no unscheduled appearances by kangaroos, with kangaroo-proof fencing having been erected in the past year.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
Arron Lynch is perhaps better known as a top jumps jockey. The 32-year-old rode his first city winner on the flat at Caulfield last July.
A noted hard worker in strong demand by trainers, he said after the meeting that it was really good to be able to ride five winners, particularly with three being for his brother.
As youngsters, they grew up in Traralgon where their father as a versatile horseman, then moved to South Australia.
Arron had his first race ride in 2007, and from over 3160 starts is not too far short of 300 career winners. He can ride comfortably at 58kg and hopes to return to Hanging Rock.
Clearly pleased with the long but successful hit and run visit from Murray Bridge (he travelled to Ballarat with his team on Friday) Garret said he had been confident he had picked out the right races to suit his horses, with two rated as very strong chances to win, and another in contention.
Garret was a rodeo champion before being seriously injured, and turning his attention to training thoroughbreds.
From small beginnings, he now has a team of 32 in work at Murray Bridge.
Now Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club is busily preparing for its Australia Day meeting.
