BLAKE Spriggs made a promise when he left a funeral of a close friend in August last year that he would win a feature race on Headwall.
Thus it was totally understandable the Newcastle jockey was emotional after fulfilling that pledge by clinching the $300,000 Group 3 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange yesterday on that horse.
Headwall’s breeder Reg Young lost his wife Marie to motor neurone disease in July last year, and Spriggs, then based in Brisbane, and his partner KC Osborne flew from Brisbane to attend her funeral early the following month at the Northcliffe Chapel not far from Kembla Grange racecourse.
“My association with Reg and Marie goes back to when I started my riding career,” Spriggs said on Sunday.
“Marie fought such a long battle against a cruel disease, and Reg gave the eulogy at her funeral.
“He mentioned that getting to know me really lifted her interest in racing, and I didn’t realise she valued me so highly.
“Marie would keep smiling even when she was ill, and that smile would light up the room.
“That’s why I promised my fiancée KC Osborne after the funeral that I would win a good race on Headwall.
“I’m fortunate to stay with Reg when I travel to Kembla Grange to ride work for trainer Mitch Beer, and we were going through the replays last Thursday night of all the winners I had ridden from Headwall’s family.
“We counted eight (including Headwall’s dam Positive Quest’s two wins at Newcastle in 2014), so it’s been a great association with both Reg and Marie and their equine family as well.
“As they have shown me so much loyalty, it was such a pleasure to win The Warra for Reg, and also trainer Matthew Smith, who continues to also be a terrific supporter of mine.”
Spriggs rode the now five-year-old Headwall in his first three wins, including a debut Maiden Plate (900m) at Newcastle on July 2, 2022.
To continue his association with the gelding, he flew from Brisbane on November 6 last year to win a 900m Rosehill Gardens trial in preparation for a resumption at The Gong meeting a few weeks later.
“Headwater ran third in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) and I was disappointed with his performance until we found out subsequently that he had been injured,” Spriggs said.
“That’s why he didn’t race again until he won first-up over 1000m on the Kensington track on August 14 (ridden by claiming apprentice Zac Wadick).”
Spriggs says Headwall has a turn of foot not matched by any other horse he has ridden in a race.
“I rode plenty of Group 1 winners trackwork when apprenticed to Gai Waterhouse at Royal Randwick, so I know the quality Headwall has.”
A $7.50 chance and after being last of the 11 runners, Headwall surged down the outside to defeat 2022 placegetter Dragonstone ($5) and $3 favorite Hedged to post his sixth victory and boost his earnings to just over $415,000.
Spriggs, who came back to Newcastle from Brisbane in April after an injury enforced layoff, posted his first black type success since returning “home”, and his 18th winner this season.
Fittingly, it was at Kembla Grange, where he has ridden eight of those 18 winners since August 1.
Whilst it was a great day for Spriggs, it wasn’t far off being an absolutely brilliant one.
He had run second in the previous race on gallant Wangaratta gelding Suparazi ($26) to heavily backed $2.60 favorite Gringotts in the $1m Group 3 The Gong (1600m).
“Suparazi went super, and I put my hand up to ride him again if they need me,” Spriggs said.
That could be a rematch with Gringotts in the $2m Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 14!
Story John Curtis, November 24, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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