Blake Spriggs received’t let a damaged nostril gradual his momentum with the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap successful jockey keen so as to add to his tally at Scone on Tuesday.
Spriggs was fortunate to flee a extra critical damage when headbutted by his mount Touchable Witness whereas popping out of the gates at Newcastle on Saturday.
“I haven’t had scans on it however my nostril is huge and purple and a bit sore,” Spriggs mentioned.
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“I’ve damaged it a couple of occasions earlier than. It’s not unhealthy however I’m certain there’s a small break in there as a result of my nostril is pointing a little bit bit to the left the place it wasn’t earlier than.
“I can’t do a lot about it, we simply play on I suppose.”
That mentioned, Spriggs’ accidents had been visibly unhealthy sufficient for the brand new father to cancel a deliberate assembly with Santa Claus.
“My accomplice Kasey (Osborne) and I had been meant to go up and get pictures with our new child on Sunday however we elected not to try this,” Spriggs mentioned. “We’ll have to attend till subsequent yr.”
Spriggs has 4 rides at Scone on Tuesday, two of them for Matthew Smith particularly Nomara and Clovelly.
Spriggs has ridden 35 winners for Smith with a strike-rate of 17.9 per cent.
One of many duo’s shared triumphs got here on June 18 at Kembla when Nomara roared away from her rivals for a straightforward two size win.
The daughter of No Nay By no means went round at Winx-like odds first-up at Nowra however might solely handle to beat two others house within the five-horse Class 1 a lot to everybody’s shock, Spriggs included.
“I had huge hopes for Nomara, notably after she received at Kembla. I believed that she would go on and win no less than metro Wednesday races,” Spriggs mentioned.
“However trying again on it, I used to be in all probability a little bit bit harsh being dissatisfied about Nowra. She was first-up and possibly nonetheless a little bit bit gentle. I feel they ran a category document in that race so it took a very good run to beat her.
“In the event you take a look at her final preparation, she improved rather a lot going into that race at Kembla with the run underneath the belt.”
Whereas Nomara has drawn the skin barrier in her race on Tuesday, stablemate Clovelly is significantly better served by field two within the Merry Xmas Maiden Handicap (1100m).
Clovelly has positioned at her final two begins, the newest of which a detailed second at Nowra to the well-bred Rotorua
“The winner of the race goes very properly and I feel we’ll see it measure up in some fairly sturdy races by way of metropolis races compared to see a rustic race right here,” Spriggs mentioned.
In the meantime, Tuesday’s Coolmore Handicap (2200m) reunites Spriggs together with his first boss, Steve Hodge, when the match and underrated Kikikapow goes round.
“Steve was really one of many first individuals into the jockeys room final Saturday to see if I used to be okay.
“I feel he was quietly pondering his horse was arduous to beat on Tuesday; what’s occurred to its jockey,” Spriggs joked.
CROCKETT OUT TO CLAIM A HOME TRACK DOUBLE
Cameron Crockett is chasing a double at his house monitor on Tuesday scorching on the heels of his exceptional clear sweep of the medals in Saturday’s TAB Freeway at Royal Randwick.
Crockett saddles-up four-year-old pair Turnaway and Jet Park at Scone with Jeff Penza booked for each.
Turnaway handed in the most effective run of her 4 begin profession when she made her Crockett steady debut in a Mudgee maiden on December 2, clocking in third.
“I feel he ought to have in all probability have run second,” Crockett mentioned.
“He jumped and will have led the race which was a little bit little bit of a shock however he simply took the sit behind the pace. The fence was on fireplace that day so we had the perfect place after we jumped however handed it up it to the eventual winner.
“I don’t assume he would have overwhelmed the winner, it’s in all probability a bit sharper than him, however I feel he was entitled to run second.
“We had him nominated at each Dubbo on Monday and Scone on Tuesday and seemed on the races and so they had been each a lot of a muchness.
“He drew a greater gate right here at Scone and it’s on his house monitor so he doesn’t must journey.
“I feel he shall be a very good present on Tuesday.”
As for final begin Mudgee winner Jet Pack, he’s more likely to be at Scone on Tuesday however has his hand up for a begin on the Christmas Eve card at Royal Randwick.
“He shall be very arduous to beat on Tuesday however he’s additionally going to be nominated for the Freeway on Saturday,” Crockett defined.
“If he races on Tuesday, he has acquired to lug top-weight however I don’t assume it’s a very arduous race and I didn’t assume it was a lot stronger than final time.
“The horse is spot on and able to go and I feel he’s going higher than he what he was going into Mudgee.”
Jet Pack’s on-pace tendencies and early pace stands in distinction to his well-known sibling, the previous barnstormer, Kaepernick.
Initially revealed as Scone preview: Blake Spriggs expects Nomara to atone for her final defeat as a short-priced fav
