Hutchinson, Ron

When his association with Paddy Prendergast came to an end, Ron moved permanently to England and rode regularly for the Duke of Norfolk, who ran a private stable at Arundel. He also rode, whenever possible, for trainer Jack Jarvis.

Ron won some top class races for the Arundel set-up including the 1973 Eclipse (Scottish Rifle), 1970 Ayr Gold Cup (John Splendid), Goodwood's 1968 Gordon Stakes (Mount Athos) and the 1974 Ascot Gold Cup (Ragstone).

He also did well for Harry: together they landed the 1969 One Thousand Guineas on Full Dress and the St Leger on Intermezzo in the same year.

Like his fellow countryman and good friend Scobie Breasley, Ron excelled at waiting tactics.

He was never to win the Derby; he was jocked off the 1966 Epsom Derby hero Charlottown (Scobie Breasley got the ride) and he had left for the Far East when the Arundel yard landed the 1978 race with Shirley Heights, a colt he had ridden as a 2-y-o the previous season.

It wasn't entirely his own fault losing the mount on Charlottown:  the horse was due to make its seasonal reappearance on May 9 in the Brighton Derby trial, but was found to be suffering from a bruised foot that morning and was withdrawn.

He recovered sufficiently to take part in the Lingfield Derby Trial on May 13. The going was soft and the meeting only went ahead after a morning inspection.

Reasonably enough, Ron did not want to subject Charlottown to a hard race and allowed the horse to take things just a bit to easily early on. Consequently, when Brian Taylor shot Black Prince ll into a clear lead turning into the straight, Ron was clearly in trouble. Some twenty lengths behind, he began riding with full purpose, but Charlottown hung badly in the last furlong.

Ron was roasted by the riders in the stands and lost the Derby ride.

One mid-summer afternoon at Salisbury, Ron rode the unraced  filly Skyway. The stewards thought he had been a little economic with his efforts, and suspended him for a fortnight.

Ron should certainly have won The Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Scottish Rifle, but his judgement was awry and he finished a neck second to Gift Card. (He made up for this lapse by taking the Eclipse on the same horse later.)

Ron was 5ft 2ins.

Citing a troublesome hip joint, Ron retired from the saddle in 1977. His son, Raymond, a student at a veterinary college, became a successful amateur rider on the flat.

Ray, aged 34, and his father returned home to Australia on Thursday, 29 December 1988.

It was Ray's intention to take out a training licence in the Gold Coast Queensland after spending six months working with trainer Colin Hayes.

Upon Ron Hutchinson retirement, he expressed an interest in the buying and selling of racehorses. He also offered that he was not interested in obtaining his trainer's licence due to his belief that it was indeed the rare jockey that could make the transition to becoming a good trainer.

He was selected for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2005, being one of the fortunate jockeys from his era to live to appreciate the honour.

Other big wins for Ron included:

1966 Goodwood Stakes for the Queen on Gaulois.

1964 Victoria Cup - Blazing Scent.

1972 Royal Hunt Cup - Tempest Boy.

1963, 1965 & 1966 Sussex Stakes - Queen's Hussar, Carlemont & Pavch.

1963 Portland Handicap - Marcher.

1962 Doncaster Cup - Bonnard.

1962 Manchester Handicap - Concealdom.