In a world of seven-figure yearlings, Garret Lynch has a blue collar approach. <\/p>\n
The Murray Bridge trainer forked out a miserly $5,500 for his stable star Alainge, a mare that has him on the trail of an unlikely Melbourne Cup<\/a> dream in Saturday\u2019s Listed Andrew Ramsden Plate (2800m)<\/a> at Flemington. <\/p>\n Snapped up at an Inglis Online Sale last year, Alainge has been a revelation for Lynch in 22 starts, nabbing six wins in under 12 months, including last month\u2019s Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2518m)<\/a> \u2013 his first stakes success. <\/p>\n It fits the criteria of what\u2019s generally considered a \u2018bargain buy\u2019 in the racing vernacular, however, the 5YO daughter of Sir Prancealot is one of the most expensive horses Lynch prepares.<\/p>\n \u2022 Racing triumph can emerge from Spirit Of Boom tragedy<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have any of this in mind when we bought her,\u201d Lynch<\/a>, who leads the SA trainers\u2019 premiership with 65 wins, said.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw her form and thought, I\u2019ll get her back and she\u2019ll probably be a metropolitan horse.<\/p>\n \u201cShe sold cheap enough, my whole stable is always really cheap, she\u2019s one of the most expensive ones I\u2019ve got at $5,500.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I get an opportunity with a nice sort of horse, I try to capitalise on it, she\u2019s exceeded all expectations and hopefully we can keep exceeding expectations.\u201d <\/p>\n Alainge made considerable ground from last in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m)<\/a> at $51, finishing fifth. <\/p>\n She then ran honestly in next start\u2019s Onkaparinga Cup (2150m)<\/a> before back-to-back Morphettville<\/a> wins, including the PA Cup. <\/p>\n \u201cAfter her Adelaide Cup run, she was 21 lengths last at the 800m and flew and got beat seven,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe runner-up in the Adelaide Cup (Highland Bling<\/a>) was beaten half a length in the Sydney Cup<\/a>. If we were in that race a bit closer, I think we could have won the Adelaide Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the race, I thought we\u2019ll have a crack at qualifying for the Melbourne Cup \u2013 it\u2019s starting to come to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 ‘It’s not something you expect’: Shock over stingray attack<\/a><\/p>\n The plan was vindicated in the Port Adelaide Cup, which propelled Alainge into Andrew Ramsden contention. <\/p>\n She\u2019s a $23 outsider with Sportsbet for a Melbourne Cup golden ticket on Saturday, with in-form jockey Harry Grace<\/a> is booked to ride. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Port Adelaide Cup win, you\u2019re exempt from the ballot for the Ramsden, obviously it\u2019s the logical way to go,\u201d Lynch said. <\/p>\n \u201cFingers crossed we can win the Ramsden, then we are exempt from the ballot for the Melbourne Cup \u2013 that\u2019s the real goal.<\/p>\n