THE connections of talented sprinter Spy Wears Prado had intended sending the gelding for a well-earned spell after he finished third in Hobart at the end of last month.
But after being placed in a lush spelling paddock at owner-breeder David Cochrane’s property at Longford, the horse refused to accept the decision and made several attempts to show his displeasure before finally being sent back to the trainer.
“The trainer (Dianne Ray-Luttrell) lives along the road to us and she comes past our place on the way top the track each morning and this horse started trying to jump the hedge near tor road to get a lift to the training track so in the end we just had to put him back into work,” Cochrane said.
“He absolutely loves this caper (racing) so while he is in this frame of mind we might as well keep him going,” he said.
On Sunday at Tattersall’s Park Spy Wears {Prado made it three wins from his past four starts and he did it in style.
With Chris Pace aboard, the grey gelding sat just off the pace and when Pace gave him rein the gelded son of Al Maggiore-Personal Spy booted clear and went on to score comfortably from This Moment and Hell Strong.
Spy Wears Prado began a preparation in November last year but after two minor placings from five starts he was given a two-month break.
He returned with a vengeance winning three and being placed at his only other three starts.
“We’ve managed his starts this time in and since he had that couple of months off to freshen-up he has done a magnificent job,” Cochrane said.
Spy Wears Prado is by El Maggiore that stands Cochrane’s Bowthorpe Stud.
“This hors has been great for the stud because we own the stallion and his dam.”
“El Maggiore’s other progeny are starting to do well with Carbon County winning and notching placings and there are some others coming through the ranks that are starting to mature,” he said.