The Sprooker with a point to prove on debut at Hawkesbury

The Sprooker
The aptly-named The Sprooker is out to prove a point for trainer Jason Clisby at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Photo: Bradley Photos

TRAINER Jason Clisby is hoping three-year-old colt The Sprooker can win more numerous reasons at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Clisby is more known for pin-hooking his thoroughbreds at the Ready to Run sales and has had only two race-day runners in the past, but unusual circumstances left The Sprooker in his capable hands.

The son of Your Song had impressed at the breeze ups before Clisby received a phone call with an offer. The prospective buyer offered to pay $220,000, but Clisby wanted to test the market to see what it would fetch at the sales.

“I had a bloke ring me up and ask if he could come look at him before the sale,” Clisby told Horsebetting.com.au. “He came out and offered me $220,000 and told me not to send him to the sale.

“I said he’s got $200,000 reserve on him – if you want to come buy him do so, and if he doesn’t reach that figure then you save yourself $20,000 and he’s yours.”

The sales figures didn’t reach the heights of previous years according to Clisby, so the original offer of $220,000 was welcoming, but that’s where the story takes a turn for the worse.

“It’s the worst sale I’ve been to. There weren’t many overseas buyers,” Clisby said. “He got bid up to $185,000 so we passed him in.

“The bloke that wanted to buy him gave me a cheque and it bounced.”

Clisby was willing to give him more time to sort his finances and another deal was struck.

“We made a deal that I would keep a quarter of the horse and he’d buy three-quarters for $150,000. That was no problem, but again the cheque bounced,” he said.

“After the last cheque bounced he sent me texts claiming to be in Dubai and saying the money will be there.

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“I didn’t bother chasing it and I haven’t heard from him since.

“He’s a talker, a spruiker. He kept saying about how rich and how good he was.”

That’s where the name The Sprooker came from and Clibsy is hoping to rub his nose in their success on Thursday.

“We called it The Sprooker after him and I’m hoping he can put it up the sprooker’s nose. Hopefully it’s an omen and it works out well,” said Clisby, who has had good success pin-hooking in the past.

“I’ve been buying horses at the classic sale in December and I’ve been turning them over as ready to run horses. I set a price on them once I’ve broke them in.

“Then I work out what I think they’re worth, put a reserve on them, send them to the sales and if they reach that price, good, off they go.

“I buy around $15000-$25,000 horses and have been turning them over for around $125,000 so its been good.”

The Sprooker lines up in the Philon 3YO Maiden Handicap on Thursday and after two pleasing trial efforts, Clisby is excited about its chances this season.

“I haven’t done much with him as the horse is still raw, but we have a decent race horse,” Clisby said. “He’s well, he’s sound, so we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes tomorrow.”

Clisby thinks The Sprooker has city and stakes credentials, but that talent might not be seen until it steps over the longer distances.

“I’m hoping he will reach those heights. He’s got a nice pedigree and he’s a lovely strong horse,” he said.

“He does everything like a good horse. He doesn’t panic and takes everything in his stride.

“He’s just so big that he needs a barrier extension and he takes a couple of strides to get going.”

It’s the brother to the classy Tempt Me Not, which was good enough to win the P.J. Bell Stakes last season.

“His sister came out and won in the autumn and placed in the Light Fingers Stakes, so he’s worth a bit of money,” Clisby explained.

Grant Buckley has been closely associated with the three-year-old and will partner The Sprooker ($34 with CrownBet) at Hawkesbury.

“Since I broke the horse in, Grant came and rode him for the first time and said, ‘this is the best horse you’ve trained’. Grant has sat on him in every gallop since,” Clisby said.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t able to ride in the trials due to race commitments, but otherwise Bucko has been with the horse the whole time.”

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