Adam Hyeronimus will return to Saturday metropolitan racing for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years when he heads to Rosehill for six rides.
The Group 1-winning jockey hasn’t ridden in town since September 2020 after being banned over betting offences.
Returning to trackwork in December, his comeback was delayed when he fractured his shoulder in a barrier trial incident earlier this year before finally returning to race riding last month.
He landed his first winner back at Kembla Grange last weekend and with several of Sydney’s leading hoops in Queensland for the winter carnival, the door has opened for Hyeronimus to make his Sydney return.
Three of his six mounts are for trainer Bjorn Baker, who is happy to see Hyeronimus back in the saddle.
“He has ridden plenty of winners for me and it’s good to have him back,” Baker said.
“He’s a good bloke, he rides well. He’s been doing a bit of work at the stables for me too.”
Hyeronimus has ridden 22 career-winners for Baker at a strikerate of just over 19 per cent and Baker is hoping those statistics read even better after Saturday.
Trainer and jockey team up with Battleton in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m), Maurice’s Medad in the Schweppes Handicap (1500m) and Miss Jay Fox in the Kia Ora Farnan Handicap (1200m).
While Baker is still weighing up whether to run Battleton from a wide gate, he expects both Maurice’s Medad and particularly Miss Jay Fox to feature in their respective assignments.
Miss Jay Fox is backing up from a solid effort behind stablemate Iowna Merc last weekend and has a key gear change.
“She’s got the blinkers on, she’s got a good gate (barrier three),” Baker said.
“We’ll be really positive with her and I think she can run a big race.”
Maurice’s Medad is a winner up to 2000m and while he is yet to salute first-up, his fresh runs include a fourth to Paulele at Group 3 level and a competitive third in a harder race at Rosehill last preparation.
“We’re going in hopeful, although I think once he gets up to 2000-metres you’ll see the best of him,” Baker said.
“He’s in good order, he looks really well and his work has been good.”