South Australian preparer Garret Lynch swaps the jockey’s ‘saddle will travel’ for his own ‘have horse float, will travel’ philosophy.

Annually, Lynch drives thousands of kilometres throughout South Australia originating from Murray Bridge, topping the trainers’ premiership on 65 winners, outpacing Phillip Stokes by 21.

These victories feature city metro wins, 35 on provincial tracks and 27 from isolated country meets at Ceduna, Roxby Downs, Quorn, Penong, Lock and Pooncarie.

“I place them where they can win and if that means if it’s 10 or 11 hours away, I’ll head off,” Lynch said.

Saturday sees Lynch tackling novel ground at Flemington’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) with top galloper Alainge, gunning for a crack at November’s Melbourne Cup (3200m).

He last saddled a Flemington runner in 2014’s Bagot Handicap, Callmedan seventh.

Over 15 years training, Alainge’s Listed Port Adelaide Cup conquest at Morphettville May 2 stands as Lynch’s pinnacle success.

Saturday’s race entered Lynch’s plans after Alainge ran fifth in Morphettville’s March Adelaide Cup (3200m).

“She ran a really good race in the Adelaide Cup and was just way too far back and finished off really strongly,” Lynch said.

“After getting the two miles for the first time, I thought we’d head down this direction and try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup.

“Ask any trainer, and their aim is to win the Melbourne Cup, and I’m no different.”

Just two prior headquarters runners for Lynch, who calls Alainge his finest hope ‘by far’.

“My early training career, I was only 23 or 24 when I had my other Flemington runners,” Lynch said.

“My last runner was seventh in the Bagot.

“Back then I was based at Murray Bridge but every summer I would base myself at Cranbourne for three or four months and I did that for about four years then.”

Harry Grace gets the call on Alainge; he apprenticed with late Robbie Laing, Lynch’s Melbourne stay contact.

Grace, Alainge’s Port Adelaide Cup victor jockey, was swayed to South Australia by Lynch.

“I’m the one that convinced him to come over, so I’ll stay loyal to him,” Lynch said.

“He’ll ride her over there on Saturday and then we’ll head to the Sandown Cup after the Ramsden, and he’ll ride her there as well.

“He hasn’t got a base yet, but he’ll float around between Murray Bridge and Morphettville and try an establish himself over here.”

Secure the best betting sites options for sports betting on the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.