Sarah’s Bargain Babies Aim Up For More Success

A keen eye for bargain yearlings is paying big dividends for Townsville trainer Sarah Acornley and the success looks set to continue at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Acornley will chase her fifth two-year-old winner for the season with Spurcific Journey and Rock The Box in the TAB QTIS 2YO Hcp (1200M) .

The young trainer, who prepares a select team with her jockey husband Carl Spry at their Cluden stables, took a punt last year with the purchase of inexpensive yearlings.

And the results have exceeded their expectations.

So far this season the team has landed four wins, and seven placings from 17 starts and amassed $110,000 in prizemoney and QTIS bonuses.

“We really got tired of buying tried horses that just didn’t get us the results so we decided to focus on babies and the QTIS money,” Acornley said.

“The yearlings we bought were all pretty cheap buys, but a lot of background work went into picking out the right types.

“Some are by first season sires and a couple were late foals that didn’t fetch much at all. Spurcific Journey was a December foal and cost $1000 on the March on-line sale.

“We’re lucky to have a great owner group who were prepared to support us.

“I’d say 97% of our owners are people we have known for a long time who live out of town. 

“It’d be nice to increase the number of local owners in the stable to get more people involved.

“This year has been amazing, and has exceeded our expectations. I treat all of these babies like my kids – keep them happy and healthy and they’ve been great on the track.”

The promising Altar Boy has been the star performer for the stable this season with two wins and two thirds.

Red Hot Poker and Mission Estate have also been winners.

Acornley is confident debutant Spurcific Journey and Rock The Box can acquit themselves well tomorrow.

“They’re both going into the race in really good order,” Accornley said.

“Being a late foal Spurcific Journey has taken a little while to come on but he trialled very well and the lack of race experience is probably the only unknown factor.

“Rock The Box ran a very good race first-up in Cairns and the 1200m looks suitable for her.”

Spry will ride Spurcific Journey and leading jockey Justin Stanley has been booked for Rock The Box.

The seven-race Cluden meeting kicks off with the TAB 2yo Mdn Hcp (1200m) at 11.57am and winds up with the Mitavite RB 0-55 Hcp (1400m) at 3.27pm.

Pictured: Babies are her business. Altar Boy winning for trainer Sarah Acornley in February with husband Carl Spry in the saddle. Sarah will saddle up Spurcific Journey and Rock The Box at Cluden tomorrow.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race day