Tigers’ Jack Riewoldt, Tom Lynch share in $1.1m Melbourne Cup payout

Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch had over a million reasons to smile after the Melbourne Cup was run and won on Tuesday.

Soulcombe running second to Without A Fight and (inset) some of the Richmond players in the Punt Road End syndicate.

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.

Soulcombe running second to Without A Fight and (inset) some of the Richmond players in the Punt Road End syndicate.

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.

Jayden Short, Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt watching Soulcombe during gallops at Caulfield Racecourse on October 17, 2023. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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.

Richmond boys would be happy Soulcombe missed the start to run on to finish 2nd for a cool million #MelbourneCup

— Darren Camilleri⚫️⚪️⚫️🇦🇺🇲🇹✊🏾🌊🏄‍♂️ (@camo2572) November 7, 2023

“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.”