The saying about a jockey who has a saddle will travel doesn’t apply to South Australian conditioner Garret Lynch, who prefers the mantra ‘have horse float, will travel’.
Lynch accumulates thousands of kilometres annually driving across South Australia from his Murray Bridge headquarters and presently leads the state’s trainers’ standings with 65 victories, holding a 21-win margin over Phillip Stokes.
His total comprises metropolitan city successes, 35 provincial triumphs and 27 at remote country venues such as Ceduna, Roxby Downs, Quorn and Penong, plus Lock and Pooncarie.
“I place them where they can win and if that means if it’s 10 or 11 hours away, I’ll head off,” Lynch said.
On Saturday, Lynch ventures into uncharted territory at Flemington in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) featuring Alainge, his standout performer yet, aiming for qualification into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) come November.
Lynch’s prior appearance at Flemington was the 2014 Bagot Handicap where Callmedan placed seventh.
Alainge delivered Lynch’s most significant win in 15 years of conditioning by taking the Listed Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on May 2.
Lynch started considering the upcoming event following Alainge’s fifth placing in the Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville back in March.
“She ran a really good race in the Adelaide Cup and was just way too far back and finished off really strongly,” Lynch said.
“After getting the two miles for the first time, I thought we’d head down this direction and try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup.
“Ask any trainer, and their aim is to win the Melbourne Cup, and I’m no different.”
Lynch noted he had just two previous starters at the track and regards Alainge as his top opportunity, ‘by far’.
“My early training career, I was only 23 or 24 when I had my other Flemington runners,” Lynch said.
“My last runner was seventh in the Bagot.
“Back then I was based at Murray Bridge but every summer I would base myself at Cranbourne for three or four months and I did that for about four years then.”
Harry Grace, formerly apprenticed to the late Robbie Laing whom Lynch visited during Melbourne outings, will partner Alainge on Saturday.
Lynch played a key role in persuading Grace, who partnered Alainge to success in the Port Adelaide Cup, to shift to South Australia.
“I’m the one that convinced him to come over, so I’ll stay loyal to him,” Lynch said.
“He’ll ride her over there on Saturday and then we’ll head to the Sandown Cup after the Ramsden, and he’ll ride her there as well.
“He hasn’t got a base yet, but he’ll float around between Murray Bridge and Morphettville and try an establish himself over here.”
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