Son of a gun Adam jogs the memories
LOCAL punters with long memories will have fond recollections when they see Adam Hyeronimus’ name alongside My True Love and Monsieur Gustave at today’s Caloundra Cup meeting.
Craig Hyeronimus was the punters’ pal at Caloundra in the late ’ 80s and early ’ 90s. In the first seven years of racing at the venue, he finished in the top three riders every year, winning premierships in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.
He rode his last winner at the course in April 1993 before moving to Macau and ending his career a couple of years later. He retired to Cowra and he and wife Narelle are heavily involved with the local Jockey Club.
His son Adam, now 26, was born at Buderim but has little recollection of his dad’s halcyon days at Corbould Park.
“I never got to see Dad ride. I would have loved to have gone to the races and watch him,” Adam said.
“Everybody that asks if Craig is my father, they always speak very highly of my Dad and it is a bit of a shame I never got to see him ride live.
“I’m really looking forward to riding at Caloundra, but it would be even better if I can win one or both races.”
Sunshine Coast Guineas hope My True Love was gunned down by Prompt Response over 1350m at Doomben, but her rider doesn’t see the step to a mile as a problem.
“She’s only had one go, but that was off a very quick backup ( two days),” he said.
“She didn’t disgrace herself, because she stepped sharply up in distance.
“She put the writing on the wall last start and the form has been franked.”
Hyeronimus senior has told his son not to be put off by the wide draw.
“Dad said it’s a big track and from that alley, there’s no hurry,” he said.
“She has good gate speed, so I imagine she will be able to race up on the speed without any trouble.”
Hyeronimus Junior has carved a successful career for himself in New South Wales, but it wasn’t a profession his parents pushed him into.
“Once Dad stopped riding that was it for him. He didn’t have anything to do with racing or horses,” he said.
“It wasn’t really in my life but I used to keep telling Mum and Dad ‘ I’m going to be a jockey’ and it got to the stage where I was about 16 and Dad said ‘ well if you’re going to be a jockey, you’re going to have to learn to ride’.
“That’s when I first sat on a horse and it went from there.
“Since I became a jockey, Dad has been a big influence. I speak to him nearly every day about my riding.”