Linda Meech returns a winner at Caulfield

Jockey Linda Meech has made a winning return to metropolitan racing guiding South Australian raider He’s A Balter to victory at Caulfield.

Saturday’s victory aboard He’s A Balter in the Volvo Cars Brighton Handicap (1100m) was Meech’s first ride at Caulfield since winning aboard Guizot in March 2020.

In the 18 months since that victory, Meech has given birth to son Anthony in January, while last week she and partner Mark Pegus announced their engagement.

Meech gave up rides at Saturday’s country meeting at Warracknabeal to ride at Caulfield following a call from Lachie Weekly, the racing manager for trainer Will Clarken.

Weekly is also the manager of Jamie Kah, who on Friday was suspended, along with three other jockeys, for breaking Racing Victoria COVID protocols.

Besides He’s A Balter, Meech also picked up the ride on Beau Rossa in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

“Yesterday morning Lachie rang me to ask if I wanted to ride them,” Meech said.

“I asked him to give me a few minutes to think about it because I didn’t want to come and embarrass myself.

“I thought if I’m fit enough to ride at Warracknabeal, they’ve both got green grass and a white rail, then I might as well go down.”

It turned out to be a winning decision as He’s A Balter ($17) registered a half-head win from Destination ($6.50) with Dirty Thoughts, a $5 equal favourite, a long-neck away third.

“Everything was peachy until the last 200 metres,” Meech said.

“I thought ‘please don’t stop’.

“It’s a bit of a dream actually. I’ve had a whirlwind last 18 months with a little baby coming along and we got engaged last week, so things couldn’t be better.”