Cowra jockey Adam Hyeronimus had a dominant Cowra Diggers' Cup, riding the Dubbo-trained Westlink to victory by just over three-and-a-quarter lengths on Monday afternoon, but had some nifty assistance from a well-known relative and racing personality.
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Reg Paine is Hyeronimus' grand-father and a legendary jockey in his own right, and offered plenty of advice on the morning of the race.
"[He] still works as a clerk of the scales," the now Sydney-based jockey explained.
"[I] went over to the racetrack with the grandfather and he showed me a few different tricks… and just advised on what I should do for the barrier.
"I really enjoyed… having his help.”
Drawing an outside lane, the horse quickly worked its way into a poised position early in the race before making its dash at the final straight, pulling away from the otherwise crowded field to a commanding victory.
While the Darren Hyde-trained four-year-old was in a league of its own on Monday, the Canberra-based training team of Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones would've also been pleased with their efforts, netting a second and third placing with New Zealand horse Athonis and Inch Perfect respectively.
He’s pretty casual, he knows what his job is, and he knows how to get it done.
- Adam Hyeronimus on Westlink
Reflecting on his last two wins with Westlink, Hyeronimus said ahead of an Australian Country Championships berth in Canterbury that the horse is one that is easy to ride.
"He's pretty casual, he knows what his job is, and he knows how to get it done," Hyeronimus said.
He also admitted that with the wide lane draw he was little uncertain as to how the Hyde-trained gelding would handle the wide lane draw.
"I was very worried before the race how it was going to pan out for me from that barrier," adding that he was surprised at "how easily I dropped into the position that I wanted to be in".
After going two from two with Hyde and Westlink, Hyeronimus said he was pleased to be working someone who had a strong understanding of his horses.
“He’s a very good trainer and looks after his horses really well, which is obviously a massive thing for a trainer to know his horses and it makes my job easier," he observed.
“We’ve started off on a good note."
Westlink, will now rest until the Australian Country Championships, having earlier won its qualifier in Dubbo on February 10, but while Hyeronimus' busy schedule will continue, he's already looking forward to the April 6 event.
“Hopefully I can have some luck [in it], we have to see how things go."
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