Retired Richmond great Jack Riewoldt owns Soulcombe racehourse with Tigers teammates

He’s won three premierships and Coleman Medals— but retired Tigers great Jack Riewoldt is gunning for another trophy that’ll be just as good as winning the AFL Grand Final.

Richmond players Jack Riewoldt, Liam Baker, Tom Lynch, Jack Graham, Nathan Broad and Jayden Short all have a share in Caulfield Cup runner Soulcombe. Picture: Wayne Taylor.

Retired Richmond great Jack Riewoldt has experienced the ultimate euphoria in football, three times winning the AFL premiership.

But his days of lifting “the cup” may not be done with yet.

The dynamic forward played 347 games, won three premierships, three Coleman Medals for the top goalkicker and the list goes on.

But a sporting high still awaits.

Riewoldt and five former Tigers premiership teammates – Tom Lynch, Nathan Broad, Jayden Short, Jack Graham and Liam Baker – now own a Caulfield Cup runner and a Melbourne Cup hopeful.

It’s a dream come true for the Punt Road End syndicate, which was persuaded to invest in the international stayer Soulcombe by prominent owner John O’Neill.

“We’ve spoken a bit in the group and it’ll come pretty close to winning an AFL grand final,’’ Riewoldt admitted.

“In footy, you can have some impact at least. We’re very fortunate to have a horse so early on in these big races. It’s extremely exciting.”

Richmond stars Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch are vying for another trophy win. Picture: Sarah Reed

Riewoldt ventured to the track at the last minute to witness Soulcombe’s impressive win at Caulfield in the Heatherlie Stakes last month.

“Soulcombe is the third horse I’ve been involved in,” he said.

“I’ve also got a share in Valiant King, who is trained by Joseph O’Brien and we’re hoping he might come over for the cup here (Caulfield).

“A lot needs to go right with these sorts of things, but it’s a great start and it’s a start that we didn’t think we’d have. We didn’t back it, but we are still winners.”

The Richmond friends, who all played together in the Tigers’ 2020 premiership win over Geelong, are pumped for their day in the mounting yard next Saturday at the 2023 Caulfield Cup.

After the Heatherlie Stakes win then third place in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes behind 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip, hopes are high. Broad agreed with Riewoldt about where the joy would rank.

“The Caulfield Cup will be a great day and the nerves are coming,’’ Broad said.

“Nothing will ever top the 2017 grand final, but if it wins, it might top 2019 and 2020.

“Our first horse was a couple of years ago and it didn’t go so well. The more media hype there is, the more we get into it. We had a pretty quiet autumn gearing up for this.”

Broad said it was an easy sell by mad Richmond supporter O’Neill, who part-owns Verry Elleegant, Hitotsu and Incentivise, among many others.

Jack Riewoldt, Liam Baker, Tom Lynch, Jack Graham, Nathan Broad and Jayden Short each have a stake in the horse. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“We’ve got about four or five other horses with Johnny,’’ Broad said.

“He sent us a video of Soulcombe over in Europe and it was an easy ‘yes’.”

Soulcombe won three races back home in the UK and raced first-up in Australia in the Queen’s Cup (2600m) at Flemington on the final day of the carnival last year.

The gelding duly stormed home to win, which the syndicate described as a massive thrill.

The only ones set to miss the Caulfield Cup are Graham and Baker, who will be on holiday in Vegas.

“I’ll be back for the Melbourne Cup (on November 7),’’ Graham said.

“But I’ll have to find a TAB over there to watch it.

“Soulcombe won (the Heatherlie) on the day I got engaged, which was pretty cool. It’s a good hobby; I love getting all the boys together and having a few beers.”

Baker said he would not miss the race and definitely would not “not back it”.

“We are all over the moon at the moment,’’ Baker said.

“As soon as he won his first race, we fell in love and it’s been a great ride.

‘Broady’ looks after the bills and it’s ‘Fridge’s’ (Graham’s) job to find us a screen to watch the race.

“We all love the races and either getting together to watch at a pub or going to the track.

“I don’t have too much of a background in it, but it’s definitely something I enjoy.”

Lynch said rating a potential cup win as better than a grand final win was a “stretch”, but it would be as good as it got in an ownership sense. “It’s just incredible to have a horse of this calibre,’’ Lynch said.

The former Richmond stars say the win will come close to taking out the AFL Grad Final. Picture: Wayne Taylor.

“I live close to the Caulfield track so that’s handy and my favourite part of all this is the friendships. We’re all really keen to keep the syndicate going.”

Short said he had learnt his lesson and would back Soulcombe every time.

“The wins are exciting and it’s so good to be in with a chance at Caulfield,’’ he said.

“We get heaps of updates on how it’s performing and I’m not great at reading it, so I listen to John O’Neill.”

Trainer Chris Waller has Soulcombe living at his new satellite stable, Macedon Lodge, in Mount Macedon.

“Macedon Lodge is synonymous to making Melbourne Cup winners and great horses over the past few years,’’ Waller said this week.

“When it was made available, it looked an obvious choice to be able to utilise it to get horses fitter and mentally in a better state, happier. It’s just a very natural environment and I think that’s where horses thrive.”

A trackside wonderland precinct, known as Wilderland, will take over Caulfield for Caulfield Guineas Day ahead of the Caulfield Cup.

Melbourne Racing Club chairman Matt Cain said: “The thrill of horse ownership is made even more special when done in partnership with mates. After a successful season on the field, we are looking forward to welcoming the boys on course to experience the 2023 Caulfield Cup Carnival.”