Andrew Lynch rode his first Australian winner when taking the steeple at Morphettville, Adelaide, earlier today (Saturday) on second favourite Intacto for Eric Musgrove. Collaring front running outsider Infusion and Sean Flanagan to lead approaching the last fence, Lynch went on to win by 2 ¼ lengths to lead home an Irish 1, 2 3, with Robbie Colgan taking third place on odds-on Wheel The Lead, a stable companion of the winner.
The Musgrove stable is a huge supporter of this Irish-Australian series and and the trainer said “That was a great ride, that's the way to ride him.” Lynch said “He jumped super and was always going to win, he's the best horse I've sat on out here.” In contrast Colgan's mount made mistakes and didn't jump well.
In the hurdle race Lynch forfeited his mount on Musgrove's Lucky Lurch so that Stephen Gray could ride. Gray was left without a mount in the chase after the race cut up to just five runners.Lucky Lurch finished fourth behind Adam Trinder on Morsonique but that winner wasn't a points earner despite three scratchings and runner-up Mybigfatgreekhorse, also trained by Musgrove, earned maximum points but that Australian windfall was cancelled out by Colgan and Gray finishing third and fourth. It happens every year. But the Irish team emerges on top, 38 points to 30.
About a dozen anti blood sports demonstrators turned up outside the racecourse, apparently bussed in for 50 dollars a day to protest. But this Irish Day is one Morphettville's biggest occasions, a crowd of over 6,000 and all the corporate booked out.
Lynch and Colgan have an early start on Sunday morning with a 5 ½ hour car journey to Coleraine, the chase track at Casterton was ploughed up “by mistake” in the belief that there were no more chases scheduled. The two Irish jockeys have booked rides at the meeting, but this is not part of the overall series.
The team fly back to Ireland on Tuesday, hopefully ready for Bellewstown or Killarney on Wednesday.
