Adam Hyeronimus has an affinity with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Ecuador and so it should have come as no surprise that he managed to steer the seven-year-old home to win first-up at Rosehill on Saturday.
But it was a surprise for punters, Ecuador drifting remarkably in betting from $9 out to $15 in the lead-up to the $100,000 December Handicap (1400m).
A hefty topweight of 62kg perhaps considered too great a task first-up off a spell, but it wasn't the case, Hyeronimus camping off pace before driving through strongly at the business end, scoring by one length.
"He's come back in great form," Hyeronimus said. "He had the big weight over the short course and still won convincingly.
"Now it's just a matter of placing him."
Hyeronimus, nicknamed 'Hippo', has now ridden Ecuador on six occasions, producing four victories, one second place and one unplaced result in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup.
"We could have claimed but Adam's got a really good association with the horse," co-trainer Bott said.
"He does a lot of work with the horse at home so we wanted to stick true to that as he's obviously got the key to him. He's a talented jockey and he's riding well." -racenet.com.au
But it was a surprise for punters, Ecuador drifting remarkably in betting from $9 out to $15 in the lead-up to the $100,000 December Handicap (1400m).
A hefty topweight of 62kg perhaps considered too great a task first-up off a spell, but it wasn't the case, Hyeronimus camping off pace before driving through strongly at the business end, scoring by one length.
"He's come back in great form," Hyeronimus said. "He had the big weight over the short course and still won convincingly.
"Now it's just a matter of placing him."
Hyeronimus, nicknamed 'Hippo', has now ridden Ecuador on six occasions, producing four victories, one second place and one unplaced result in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup.
"We could have claimed but Adam's got a really good association with the horse," co-trainer Bott said.
"He does a lot of work with the horse at home so we wanted to stick true to that as he's obviously got the key to him. He's a talented jockey and he's riding well." -racenet.com.au