Jack Riewoldt may have just retired from the AFL, but things are looking pretty rosy post-footy after a hefty win on Melbourne Cup day.
The former Richmond full forward is part of a racing syndicate called Punt Road End and its star performer is the Chris Waller-trained Soulcombe.
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Riewoldt’s premiership-winning teammates Tom Lynch, Liam Baker, Nathan Broad and Jack Graham are also part of the syndicate.
While Soulcombe couldn’t quite chase down Without A Fight in the showpiece Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, the five-year-old gelding still put massive smiles on the group’s face.
Soulcombe’s runner-up finish comes with a $1.1 million payday for his owners, with Riewoldt conceding he was more nervous on Cup morning than on Grand Final day.
“You look at the run and we probably ran up the back of a few horses there and maybe you ask, ‘What if?’” Riewoldt told Racing.com.
“For us, as a smaller syndicate, the Punt Rd End boys, just to be here, we’ve played on one of the biggest stages on the Australian sporting calendar and to be here again on another one and have a live runner and a runner that’s run so well is so exciting.”
It caps a stunningly successful period for the British horse, with Soulcombe winning three times on home soil in mid-2022 before taking out the Queen’s Cup at Flemington as the hot favourite 12 months ago.
Another victory came in the Heatherlie Stakes in September this year and an impressive seventh in last month’s Caulfield Cup, again behind winner Without A Fight, had owners confident of a good showing in the race that stops a nation.
The one drawback is Soulcombe’s habit of bombing starts, missing the start by five lengths in the Caulfield Cup and again struggling out of the gate on Tuesday.
Waller may have a little regret over his words from last week when he stated “we’ve decided against (barrier education), I think more is less with the barrier work”.
But no one can argue with the pace and results of the horse.
With world-class jockey Joao Moreira taking the ride on Soulcombe, Riewoldt couldn’t hide his excitement leading into Cup day.
“Joao Moreira jumps on board, arguably one of the best jockeys in the world, so there’s a few things pointing in the right direction for us,” Riewoldt said last week.
“For the Punt Road End syndicate, we’re exciting to have a runner and I mean its one of Australia’s best sporting occasions.
“To be there and live that three minutes of just nail biting, sweating in a suit, just anticipation, its very similar to the three minutes before a grand final.”
Riewoldt added he’s adjusting to the racing world in retirement.
“Racing is probably a little bit different (to footy) as we can’t influence it one bit, like I can’t go up to Soulcombe and whisper in his ear,” he said.
“Footy we’re actually able to impact and try and get a kick … whereas we sit back in the lap of Chris Waller, Joao Moreira, Soulcombe and the racing Gods.”
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