Linda Meech aboard Inverloch (Image: Racing Photos)
Linda Meech claimed riding honours with a treble at the first Melbourne meeting of the season at The Valley on Saturday.
But the 38-year-old, who is fresh from claiming last season's Victorian Jockeys' Premiership for the first time, remained grounded when quizzed about the prospect of winning the Melbourne premiership in 2019/20.
Meech ended last season by winning the Victorian Jockeys' Premiership with 139 victories and managed the achievement despite missing at least two months after breaking her collarbone in a race fall at Geelong in April.
"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge," Meech said of the prospect of winning the metro title this season.
"But one of the good things about falling off and breaking my collarbone was that I lost a lot of weight.
"I've always been naturally light but I'm much lighter than I normally would be after falling off - when you're sore you don't want to eat much!"
WATCH: Hear from Meech
Meech won the opening race aboard the Richard Laming-trained Condo's Express ($8.50) before teaming up with Chris Waller to guide New Universe ($7) to victory over the mile.
Her treble was completed with a textbook front-running ride over 2040 metres aboard the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Inverloch ($15), which won by three lengths.
Meech gained the rides aboard Condo's Express and New Universe after Michael Walker couldn't make the weight following his fall at Sale on Wednesday.
"I was a bit lucky really, two of them were pick-up rides but I suppose if you are riding in town you can take advantage of getting those rides," Meech said.
"You can't do so if you're riding at country or provincial meetings the same day."
The only other rider to register multiple winners at The Valley was Jamie Kah, who registered victories aboard Something Silver ($11) and More Than Ever ($3.60) in Races 3 and 6 respectively.
WATCH: Inverloch's win