After a lengthy injury break, Adam Hyeronimus has returned to the winner’s list in style, riding Taikomochi to claim the Listed Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding by noted sire of sprinters, Snitzel, outstayed his rivals over 2400 metres, sustaining his momentum throughout in Monday’s feature.
Hyeronimus returned to the saddle earlier this month after being sidelined for three months with a bulging disc.
He took Taikomochi ($9) up to Azuro ($3.60 fav) mid-race and poured on the pressure.
Azuro capitulated with Taikomochi stealing a break and holding off Naval Warfare ($7.50) by 1-1/4 lengths.
“He is a hard horse to ride because he just drops the bridle out the front and he is so lazy,” Hyeronimus said.
“He needs to go a second quicker on the bridle and he would run along at nice sectionals but he doesn’t.
“I knew he was fit so I wasn’t scared to put the pressure on him at the 600 metres and get going. It was a good win.”
Stable representative Neil Paine said Hyeronimus had the key to Taikomochi who had been out of the winner’s circle for 10 months.
“Adam knows him backwards and rode him perfectly,” stable representative Neil Paine said.
“Taikomochi just drops his head and relaxes. Adam was able to sit second and did the right thing by putting the pressure on at the 600 metres.
“This is terrific for Adam and will give him a kick along.”
While the meeting celebrated the Australia Day public holiday, ex-pat New Zealanders, jockey James McDonald and trainer Bjorn Baker, took the honours with a treble at the meeting.
Quiet Riot made a winning debut over 1100m while Positive Peace appreciated the step up to 1400m after running second at his previous start over 1200m.
Riverside’s Cash rounded out the day when he backed up his last-start Gosford 1200m-win with victory over the same distance.
