Spriggs Colt Off And Racing With First-up Win

Newcastle Herald

Saturday March 15, 2008

By GEOFF WILSON

TEENAGE whiz-kid Blake Spriggs was having his fourth birthday party at Bega races when he told his mother he wanted to "ride horses like daddy".

Yesterday the kid, who only turned 16 on January 10, lived out his dream when he rode a winner at his very first ride as an apprentice jockey.

Blake Spriggs guided Sixty Watt to an all-the-way win in the Col Bruton and Jack Walker Handicap over 1000 metres at Muswellbrook.

Sixty Watt scored by 11/2 lengths from Worth The Effort Juste A Miss was another 51/4 lengths back in third spot.

The win was a popular one with the punters because the Phil Anderson-trained mare was the $3 favourite.

Blake's dad, Dale Spriggs, is regarded as one of the finest on the provincial circuit in Australia, and he watched nervously from the jockeys room as his son created his own racing history with a first-up win.

It took Dale eight rides before his first success, at York in Western Australia.

His son outdid him in style.

"I could have had a ride against Blake, but I decided it would be best just to watch, and I am glad I did. He did himself proud," Spriggs snr said.

"I started cheering from the time he jumped, and when he led into the straight and another one started to come, I just screamed 'get away, get away'.

"The other jockeys in the room were screaming alongside me, and when Blake hit the line I just started smiling, and I haven't stopped.

"I don't think I will for a long time."

Blake left St Pious School at Adamstown at the end of last year and is apprenticed to Steve Hodge at Broadmeadow.

He got his ticket to ride just 11/2 weeks ago.

Before the race, Blake walked the track with former champion jockey Mal Johnston, who is now the training manager of apprentices at Racing NSW.

"All I told the kid was that he had gone good in barrier trials but things happen a lot faster in races," Johnston said.

"He did a good job."

Johnston said he had 18 rides before his first win, on Ritual at Newcastle.

Before the jockeys were called into the mounting yard, Dale Spriggs called his son aside and simply said: "You're ready. Go out and do it."

Steward Shane Cullen called Blake in after the race and showed him the video of the event four times.

"I didn't look anywhere near as good as I have in trials, but I was just trying to find that winning post," Blake said with a smile. "I remember hunting Sixty Watt out of the barrier and working hard to get to the fence. After that it was a bit of a blur. Coming back, it just felt beautiful. This is all I have ever wanted to do."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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