Wild ride to be first Australian with runner in Kentucky Derby
BRISBANE-BORN Brian Lynch thought he’d be making his name in America as a professional bull rider, instead he finds himself in the spotlight saddling up a runner in the world-renowned Kentucky Derby this weekend.
The Australian trainer, who called Wagga home before making the move to America almost 30 years ago, competed on the famous rodeo circuit throughout the United States but quickly realised a career change was in order for both his health and financial well being.
It was then Lynch began horse training, and it is believed he will be the first ever Australian to have a horse in the Kentucky Derby ($4.2m) in the form of Classic Causeway.
After winning the $US200,000 Unbridled Stakes at Churchill Downs with $11 chance Tobys Heart, Lynch compared the build-up to the Kentucky Derby to that of the Melbourne Cup.
“It is probably the same nerves to be honest, it is the signature race over here, even if they’re not in racing, everybody over here knows what the Kentucky Derby is,” he said.
“I have won the Breeders Cup Juvenile and a couple of other Grade 1s but this is the first time I feel like I have had a horse good enough for the Kentucky Derby.”
Now training out of some of America’s most iconic racetracks since 2006, Lynch has established himself among the sport’s biggest names.
“I wasn’t much good at the bull riding, so it was for the better I changed,” he laughed.
As for the Kentucky Derby itself, Lynch said Classic Causeway ($31 with TAB) will have to use his trademark early speed to find a position from a tricky barrier 17.
The Kentucky Derby (2000m) will be run at 7.51 AEST on Sunday morning.