It was a celebratory salute that would have been fitting for a Melbourne Cup, but it was another 3200-metre event at Echuca where Irish-born jockey Gary Walsh punched the air in triumph on the first Tuesday in November.
It was a moment to savour for Gary who posted his first winner in seven rides in Australia when Reddivo scored a runaway victory in the Caledonian Hotel Road to Jericho BM70 Highweight Hcp.
After racing near the pace throughout, the Jamie Edwards-trained gelding was dominant and five lengths ahead, approaching the 100 metres, when Gary looked over his shoulder to find his opposition well and truly beaten.
The crowd of around 3000 had been cheering from the time the horses went past the winning post the first time and Gary could hear the crowd roar as Reddivo shot away the home straight.
With his first Australian win in the bag, the Irishman celebrated with the same triumphant as 27 years ago when he rode his first-ever winner at The Curragh in Ireland.
Gary said he got caught up in the moment with the cheering from the enthusiastic Echuca crowd.
“I reckon a few girls were throwing their knickers at me in the straight,” Gary said.
Under hands and heels riding in the closing stages, Reddivo ($9) scored easing up by four lengths from Sky Hero ($15) and Handshake ($12).
For 90 minutes, Gary was the most famous Melbourne Cup Day jockey in the County of Kildare in Ireland until Robbie Dolan upstaged him, winning Australia’s famous race on longshot Knight’s Choice.
“Robbie and I are from the same County, and he took away (my glory),” Gary quipped.
A popular jumps jockey, Gary has ridden around 80 winners in Ireland, England, New Zealand and now Australia, where he has just had just seven rides.
Last August, he started working for Richard Cully and now rides work at Flemington while also employed as a barman.
One of his first Australian rides was in last year’s Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on There You Go, which was unplaced.
Gary said he loved the way Reddivo “bolted away” at Echuca, which was a great trial for the Jericho Cup on December 4.
“He’s in form and a real chance,” Gary said.