No Stopping Irrepressible Spry

A recent burst of form has persuaded heavy weight Townsville jockey Carl Spry to put aside thoughts of retirement and saddle up for more winners in 2023.

Spry has ridden a winner at each of his past seven race meetings from just 16 rides and is hoping to keep the winning run going aboard the Roy Chillemi-trained Higher Realm at Cluden Park tomorrow.

The hoop, who turns 39 in March, admitted he was close to calling time on his career and decades of wasting last year.

“I had contemplated retiring when I hit 600 winners, and I got there in December, but I’m still poking along,” Spry said.

“Weight has always been tough for me and I honestly didn’t think I’d last this long.

“When I started out I thought I’d be happy if I got through the first 12 months, then I said I’d be happy getting through my apprenticeship.

“But these days I take rides around 57kg or higher and take a few breaks from the daily grind of wasting. If a good ride comes along carnival time I’ll try and get down to 56kg.

“I’m not stressing about rides. It limits the number of rides I get but it’s easier on my body. It also gives me more time to spend with Sarah and the kids and the horses and enjoying a good lifestyle”

Spry, a former leading apprentice in Brisbane, moved to Townsville from Darwin with his trainer wife Sarah Acornley and three children three years ago and together they have established a successful training operation at their Cluden home.

Sarah has enjoyed considerable success in the past two seasons specialising in two and three-year-olds while Spry has maintained a strong winning strike rate in the saddle despite his weight limitations.

He latest winning streak kicked off in November at a non-TAB meeting at Home Hill in November and has continued with a winner at six subsequent meetings – the most recent five at Cluden.

Spry has only three rides at Cluden tomorrow and is keen on the chances in the Mitavite Open Hcp (1000m) on the in-form Higher Realm whom he won on in December.

“I’ve had one ride for Roy (Chillemi) and it was on Higher Realm. He’s a good chance again.

“It’s a good stable to have knocking on your door.”

The six-event Cluden card kicks off with the Carlton & United Breweries BM 60 Hcp (1000m) at 1.44pm.

Pictured: Heavy weight jockey Carl Spry steers Ruby July to victory in heavy going at Cluden Park last week.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.