The down-to-earth nature and determination of jockey Adam Hyeronimus have taken him from strapping on Golden Rose day last year to riding the highest-profile colt in the country, Storm Boy, in the group 1 feature.
Hyeronimus had just returned to work as a jockey after a 26-month betting ban last spring and just wanted to get back to doing what he loved.
Adam Hyeronimus unsaddles Storm Boy after winning the San Domenico Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
“I was at the bottom – the fact I’ve come back is irrelevant to what happens in the future. From where I’ve come from, I can’t lose,” Hyeronimus said.
His mantra is now to work hard and repay the faith of the team at Tulloch Lodge that has taken the 34-year-old back to the top of racing in a remarkable year.
Within a couple of weeks of last year’s Golden Rose, Hyeronimus would win the Flight Stakes on Tropical Squall, which he also rode to Surround Stakes success, and then he took out the Spring Champion Stakes on Tom Kitten a couple of weeks later.
About the same time, he was riding a two-year-old at home that would become a $22.5 million colt after Hyeronimus steered Storm Boy to victory in the Magic Millions.
The purchase of the colt by Coolmore robbed Hyeronimus of the ride as the new owners opted for two of the best in the world, James McDonald and Ryan Moore. But Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott never doubted their jockey, who is at Randwick most mornings, and continued to back him. When Storm Boy needed a rider for the spring there was only one choice, and Hyeronimus was back in the Coolmore navy blue.
“He’s always done plenty of work behind the scenes and helped prepare high-profile horses for us. Adam will continue to get opportunities,” Bott said. “To have the opportunity to win the Magic Millions was one of his biggest successes. He’s made unbelievable progress since he’s been back, and he’s going to continue to do that.
“Adam was the logical choice for Storm Boy when the ride became available, and he showed how well he gets on with him winning the San Domenico Stakes and running third on him in the Run To The Rose.”
Adam Hyeronimus rsalutes as Tropical Squall wins the Flight Stake last year.Credit: Getty
Hyeronimus has earned more than $10 million in prizemoney in the saddle in the past year but no day has been bigger for him than tomorrow.
But as Storm Boy is out to fulfil his destiny in the Golden Rose and Tropical Squall looks to return to her best in the Golden Pendant, Hyeronimus underplays his hand.
“These rides come off a lot of hard work but these good horses, they look after themselves,” Hyeronimus said.
“These rides come off a lot of hard work but these good horses, they look after themselves,” Hyeronimus said. “It is great to win on them and great to have this opportunity, but it is just as important to win on Wednesday in some ways.
“There is different pressure when you ride in these big races; I just try to keep it the same.
“Storm Boy is ready to go. He is fit and happy. I think he is best horse in the race.”
Hyeronimus and Bott aren’t worried about the outside draw of 11 with Storm Boy, which will use a barrier extension for the first time in the Golden Rose.
“Being out there, he will be last in and I think that will help him jump a bit better,” Hyeronimus said.
Bott added: “We’ve tried to make a few tweaks and changes where we can to get an answer for what can help him that little bit more with that start and tactical speed.
“Last start was probably a little bit unfair. He jumped on terms but was crowded for room very early and hampered, rather than slow. But it did have him on the back foot.
“He’s a big horse, and if that extension can help in some small way, that’s got to be a positive.”
Tropical Squall would provide the perfect entree for Hyeronimus in the Golden Pendant.
“She is back to her best and when she is like this she can run sectionals the other mares can not,” Hyeronimus said.
