Jumps racing participants are a hardy breed.
And South Australian jumper Spying On You and his trainer Grant Young are perfect examples.
Spying On You will be contesting his seventh jumps race this year when he runs in the Australian Steeplechase (3400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
The six-year-old and his trainer have put in the kilometres both on and off the track to get him to the $125,000 race.
To be eligible for Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Steeplechase earlier this month, Spying On You needed to school at the track.
Young loaded up the float and made the 14-hour round trip from Murray Bridge.
“I was up at four on the Saturday, did the horses in the morning, went racing and then came home,” Young said.
“I only got a couple of hours sleep, left home at midnight and got to Warrnambool at seven.
“He did what he had to do then I drove another seven hours home.
“He got home, cleaned up the feed bin before heading back again on the Thursday.
“He did seven hours there, raced over 5500 metres and then had seven hours home.
“It was a big day.”
Spying On You finished fifth to No Song No Supper in the Grand Annual before backing up eight days later with a four-hour float trip to Mount Gambier where he won a 3400m-steeple.
“He went to Mount Gambier, got the coin and pulled up fantastic,” Young said.
“He’s a lovely horse to do anything with. As soon as he gets on a float he must nod off.
“At the races he doesn’t switch on until the saddle goes on and the jockey is legged on.”
Spying On You had a run on the flat at Gawler on Wednesday to round out his preparation for Saturday’s race for which he is an $18 chance.
Angelology heads the market at $3.20 with Wells well supported into $4.80 second favouritism.
