Spratt savours Saudi sojourn

[Wandering Eyes]

It was a whirlwind trip to Saudi Arabia last week for New Zealand jockey Sam Spratt, but one that will live in her memory for some time.

The Auckland hoop was invited to compete in the Saudi International Jockeys’ Challenge ahead of the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m) where she took on some of the world’s best jockeys, including Frankie Dettori and Joao Moreira, and she said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“It was a great experience. The hospitality was out of this world, they look after you so well.” Spratt said.

“Jockeys came from all over the world – Italy, France, Japan, America – there were some top-class jockeys, and it was lovely to meet them all.”

While she enjoyed the experience, Spratt said there were plenty of differences to familiarise herself with in the emerging racing jurisdiction.

“They do things a lot differently over there,” she said. “Even with simple things like the gates, they just open the gates and you can go in any order. Whoever leads their horse up to the gate first goes in.

“The dirt track was very deep but an amazingly big, wide surface. The turf track was good. It just looked tight, but it was really well cambered, so it rode really nicely.”

It wasn’t a successful venture in terms of results for Spratt, but she enjoyed competing, nonetheless.

“There were four races – two on the dirt and two on the turf,” she said.

“My horses weren’t very fast. I was well and truly under a ride from the moment we jumped out of the gates.”

Spratt was back riding at the Avondale trials on Tuesday to kick off an exciting week of racing, including Lowland Stakes Day at Awapuni on Wednesday where she will partner Sequioa Star in the Gr.2 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m).

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