Blake Spriggs made the most of his only Warwick Farm ride on Saturday and in the process denied fellow apprentice Jason Collett a winning return to Sydney racing.
Spriggs piloted the Mick Hood-trained Al’s Gold to a long-head win over Thumbtacks in the KARI Aboriginal Resources Inc. Handicap (1600m).
Spriggs piloted the Mick Hood-trained Al's Gold to a long-head win over Thumbtacks in the KARI Aboriginal Resources Inc. Handicap (1600m) - Photo by Steve Hart
“I was talking to my girlfriend on the way here and said, ‘I’ve only got the one ride so I’ve got to make it count’,” Spriggs said.
“I’m glad it was on him too because the owners have stuck solid with me and I’ve ridden this horse in his past seven starts.
“Sometimes he’s a victim of circumstances when you try to ride him pretty. He’s better being three wide with cover and being able to roll into it when he wants to and it worked out well today.”
It was a second city win in the past five starts for Al’s Gold who forms part of only a small Rosehill team for veteran trainer Hood.
Thumbtacks, who sat in the box seat during the run, was diving through along the inside but just missed in Collett’s first ride since heading back to Australia from his native New Zealand.
Last season’s leading New Zealand apprentice, Collett made a big impression last year in a three-month stay in Sydney and has returned for another stint in the final stages of his apprenticeship.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained import Julienas finished a short-half head behind Thumbtacks in his first Australian start and delighted jockey Nash Rawiller.
