The accomplished Bendigo picnic jockey was unable to secure a single ride for the January 7 meeting at Woolamai.

But what a difference a week makes.

Lake bounced back with a vengeance by riding a treble at last Saturday’s meeting at Healesville before following up with a double on Sunday at Balnarring.

Included in his wins was a victory in the $5000 Healesville Cup (1650m) aboard the Robert Kingston-trained Sommernachstraum.

Lake’s five wins in two days doubled his tally of wins for the 2017-18 Victorian picnic season to 10 and propelled the 20-year-old to second place on the jockey’s premiership behind fellow Bendigo rider Courtney Pace.

While he has landed trebles previously, his five wins in 24 hours was a definite first for Lake, whose haul included victories for four different trainers.

“Obviously the horses presented in good order – the trainers have done a terrific job with them,” he said.

“Especially the horse who won the Healesville Cup.”

The win of the German-bred Sommernachstraum, who raced his early career in Germany, provided its own unique sidebar, according to Lake.

“He’s a 10 year-old now and was first up; he’s a horse who has had a lot of problems,” he said.

“Australian Bloodstock paid a lot of money for him as a young horse; I think he might have been Group One placed in Germany.

“They brought him over to win the Melbourne Cup and he didn’t live up to it.

“Robert Kingston picked him up four or five years ago and he’d won only one race in Australia before Saturday.”

Lake’s 10 wins so far this season represents a stunning return to form after he rode just four in 2016-17.

He credited a trip to New South Wales before the start of the new season as one of the catalysts for the turnaround.

“There’s no masking it, I had a pretty ordinary last season after riding 19 winners the previous season,” he said.

“I wasn’t getting the good mounts – and especially when you have to waste and are battling with your weight – you lose your motivation after a while.

“You don’t even want to go to the races anymore, but I have worked on my riding style and becoming more vigorous.

“Then I went to New South Wales before the Victorian season kicked off an a good mate of mine Scott Spackman gave me a call and asked me to ride a couple of horses for him on a Friday and Saturday.

“I had four rides up there and got three winners and a second, so that got the ball rolling and it’s flowed on.

“It’s obviously and up and down game and you have to ride the highs and lows, but the camaraderie on the picnic circuit really makes it enjoyable.”

The season looks set to get even better for Lake, who figures to be one of the beneficiaries of Reece Goodwin’s decision to move to Singapore.

Goodwin, who won the jockey’s premiership in 2105-16 and finished second last season, had his last rides on the picnic circuit last weekend.

“His dad (Barry Goodwin) has a lot of horses and I now become the number one rider for him,” he said.

“So for the rest of the season I am going to have pretty good support behind me.

“I’d love to win a premiership, but it’s not something I have really thought about.”

The current racing season has provided Lake, who works for top Bendigo trainer Shane Fliedner, with another career highlight.

His win on the filly Ebony Road at Yea on December 10 was his first for his boss on the picnic circuit – and Fliedner’s first picnic starter.