Lyon starts trackwork for the multi-million-dollar stable tomorrow but he is hopeful of also picking up some race rides for them.

“I’ve enjoyed my time in Warrnambool but the chance came up to ride work for Patinack. I jumped at the chance,” the 30-year-old hoop said.

“They have not offered me any race rides but I would like to think if I’m riding trackwork for the stable there is a chance I might be able to pick up some race rides.

“The move to Melbourne is a new challenge. I hope it opens a few more doors for me.

“I’m young and fit and can ride at a light weight. I’ll be having a real crack to make sure that I’m successful.”

Lyon, who started his career with the Leon MacDonald stable in Adelaide in 1997, has been based in Warrnambool for more than two years.

“I’m grateful for the support I’ve received off owners and trainers in Warrnambool over the past few years riding work and giving me race rides,” he said.

“I aim to still ride in races in the Western District. I hope the move to Melbourne will give me more opportunities as I’ll be able to ride in races down the other side of Melbourne.

“I’ll be riding trackwork at Flemington six mornings a week.

“Patinack finishes its trackwork around 7.30 am so I will be able to ride a bit of work for some other trainers,” he said.

Lyon, who rode more than 450 winners during his 10 years in Adelaide, has ridden more than 100 winners while based in Warrnambool.

THE spring campaign for dour Warrnambool stayer Hissing Sid will become a bit clearer after he runs in the group 3 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, September 17.

Hissing Sid has been entered in this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne cups but trainer Symon Wilde said those plans might change after his Naturalism run.

“If Hissing Sid happens to win the Naturalism we might push down the Caulfield and Melbourne cups paths but if he does not we will change his path to run in either listed or group 3 races,” Symon said, who trains in partnership with his father Bill.

“Hissing Sid needs to win a good race to warrant going ahead with chasing the feature cup races but in saying that, there are plenty of other good races which he would be competitive in during the spring.”

The young trainer said Hissing Sid jarred up after running tenth in the $100,000 Heatherlie Handicap over 1700 metres at Caulfield on August 27, following on from his fourth in the $70,000 open handicap over 1600 metres at Caulfield on August 13.

“I was overseas when he had his first two runs back in this campaign,” he said.

“I’ve watched both races on the video. His first run was very good and on the surface his second run was disappointing but he jarred up, so there were excuses,” Symon said.

“He’s worked well since the last run. We expect him to be competitive in the Naturalism. His best efforts have been in races over 2000 metres or more.”

Hissing Sid, which won the Warrnambool Cup in 2009 and 2010, has won more than $456,000 in stakemoney for his connections.

The Wilde stable has no big plans for Bruno which won a restricted race over 1400 metres at Mount Gambier last Thursday.

“Bruno did a good job winning the race. It was his first race for us.

“We’ll just keep him in suitable types of races over the next few weeks.

“We might sneak him up in distance at his next run,” Symon said.

“We’ve got no big plans for the horse. We’ll just take him along slowly.

“He’s only won two of his 45 starts so there is nothing major on the radar for him.”

Meanwhile, after a month overseas taking in the sights of Spain, France, Scotland and England, Symon said he now knew how a horse comes back into work after a good freshen up.

“I think I was a bit stale before going on the holiday. I had a great time overseas.

“I spent a fair bit of time at Kingsclear in England where Andrew Balding trains,” he said.

“Andrew’s stables are magnificent. He trains horses for the Queen. It was just a great experience to see how he trains the 140 horses he has in work.”

RACING Victoria yesterday honoured six of the region’s raceday officials for outstanding contributions over 30 years.

Clerks of the course Leo Dwyer, Anne McGrath and John Goggin, stipendiary stewards Frank Beattie and John Rea and judge Tony Heffernan were among 32 recipients across the state recognised this year for their 30-year service.

The six received commemorative trophies and were treated to a luncheon at Warrnambool before yesterday’s race meeting.

PROMISING Camperdown-trained mare Lady Chopin is back in work after two months in the spelling paddock.

Lady Chopin swept to prominence winning four races from eight starts.

Trainer Geoff Daffy said the five-year-old mare came back into work last week.

“She has come back into work bigger and stronger — hopefully she will be even better during this preparation,” Daffy said.

“She showed a lot of promise at her first two preparations. I’m sure she has improved with that experience under her belt.

“She’ll probably kick off this campaign at the end of the spring carnival.”

The respected trainer said he hoped Lady Chopin might get over 1400 metres in this campaign.

“Her best efforts last time in work were over distances like 1000 and 1100 metres. She failed twice in 1200-metre races but there were genuine excuses on both occasions,” Daffy said.

“I would like to think she might be able to run out a strong 1400 metres in this campaign. By her breeding you would think she might run out 1600 to 2000 metres but it might take some time to get her to those distances.”

Lady Chopin has won more than $31,500 from her four wins for her connections.

WHO TO FOLLOW

STAR SALUTE: Beaten by a potential topliner when she ran second behind Celebrity Girl in an 1100-metre race at Flemington on Saturday. Star Salute made good ground over the concluding stages in the speed test. She is in the strong Peter Moody stable and will be hard to beat next time.

COREY BROWN: Showed he is getting back to his brilliant best when he rode three winners at Warwick Farm on Saturday. Brown will ride some of the best gallopers in the country over the next few months. Some will be at short odds but Brown’s skills in the saddle will pay dividends.

DAVID HAYES: His stable has been firing since he opened up his new stables at Euroa last month. Winners in Adelaide and in Victoria have showed the Hayes stable will be a force over the next few months.

MY SCOTSGREY: Nice run to finish fourth behind the up-and-coming December Draw. My Scotsgrey was 26/1 chance on Saturday. The lightly raced New Zealander will be a lot shorter with the bookies the next time he supports silks.