PORT Macquarie trainer John Sprague went within inches of training his first treble on Monday.
At his home track, Sprague bagged a race-to-race double before an agonising second later in the afternoon.
“I’ve trained a double before – not for a long time, mind you – but I’ve never got three on the one day,” Sprague said.
Had the trainer been willing to back his horses in, he could have made a small fortune.
With A Twist was largely unfancied by punters and was $10 in the betting ring and paid $13.10 on the tote.
But the mare, purchased for $13,000 at a Patinack Farm sale in November, was simply too good in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1200m).
With A Twist missed the jump and was well back at the turn for home, but jockey Terry Treichel gave her a saloon passage through the field to find the line powerfully.
Sprague said he was surprised when she won.
“She had a stonebruise after she won her previous start and that’s why I dropped her back from 1400m to 1200m, instead of going to 1500m,” he said.
“I thought it might be a bit short for her.”
The roll continued 40 minutes later when stablemate Volcanic Trader produced a gutsy win over 2000m in the Benchmark 53 Handicap.
Ridden by Sprague’s apprentice Gabrielle Coleman, Volcanic Trader ($13) hit the line well to win by half a length.
“He’d been racing over 1400m, but we always thought he’d be better over 2000m,” Sprague said.
“It was a good win and a good ride by Gabe.”
A good day nearly turned perfect for Sprague when Juste Si loomed up in the Benchmark 55 Handicap (1500m) in race seven.
The $21 outsider was beaten by a neck to finish second.
If not for traffic at the top of the straight, it’s likely the five-year-old mare would have won.
“I can’t really complain, but it would have been nice to train a treble,” Sprague said.
“I’m glad I didn’t back them, though, because when I do they lose.”
