Cowra's Adam Hyeronimus has combined with the legendary Gai Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott for the biggest win of his career.
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Hyeronimus gave a masterly display of front running riding to take out the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes aboard Shout the Bar at Rosehill last Saturday afternoon.
Shout The Bar stamped herself as a real chance in future staying classics, including the Australian Oaks for which she is currently second favourite.
After the win Hyeronimus described the win as "very rewarding, particularly for Gai (Waterhouse), such a privilege".
Coming from a family steeped in racing history Hyeronimus said growing up in Cowra he watched the races every Saturday afternoon seeing the Waterhouse stable dominate.
"That's what I grew up with and finishing my apprenticeship (with Tulloch Lodge) and to continue riding for her and get my first Group 1 winner is a huge thrill," he said.
"Not once at any stage did I think 'she's going to win'," Hyeronimus said after the win.
"She's probably not actually a leader, she lead by default.
"In the middle stages I was quite worried I was going to slow so I picked the tempo up.
"I didn't want to sit and sprint, I know she's tough and can run a strong 2000 metres.
"I said that all along, since her second trial I said to Adrian she's an Oaks horse and she hasn't let us down yet.
"She looks after herself very well, she's such a placid horse, when she was a baby she was too quiet.
"She'd do what you asked of her but she didn't have that speed as a two-year-old but she'd had a good spell, Gai and Adrian did the right thing by her and she's come back a bigger, stronger horse and she can keep finding, she showed that today."
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said after the race the stable was happy to see Hyeronimus rewarded for his good work.
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"He puts in the hard yards and has done a fantastic job with this filly all the way through (her career), particularly today, he kept his cool.
"Obviously you like to reward everyone who has been loyal to you and in their doing the hard yards.
"There's none more hard working than Adam, he's been there a long time and at times had to forgo certain opportunities.
"I'm glad he's been able to stick with this filly, he's had a good association with her from the outset and he's been rewarded," Bott said.
Saturday's victory followed Hyeronimus going close to scoring his first Group 1 win the previous week when he finished second on the Anthony Cummings trained Prince Fawaz in the Rosehill Guineas.