When you have only eight horses in the stable it’s no mean feat to produce four winners in a single month - and a short month at that. Long time Port Macquarie trainer John Sprague began the month of February with a double on his hometrack courtesy of Heir Apparent and Absolute Legend both ridden by his former apprentice Cejay Graham. John was delighted to provide a couple of early winners for Cejay who was resuming from a long injury layoff.
His third win for the month came in the opening race at the Coffs Harbour Showcase meeting on Feb 18th. He saddled up the Fastnet Rock gelding War Memorial to win the 1600m Class 1 with Raymond Spokes on board. One week later John’s handy mare Moon Over Alice led throughout to win a BM 64 at Newcastle with Cejay Graham doing the honours. It was two on the trot for Moon Over Alice who’d won on the Beaumont track at the end of January.
One of John's February winners! Moon Over Alice led all the way to win at Newcastle for Cejay Graham on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
John Sprague was firmly focused on a career as a jockey when he signed up with Canterbury trainer Jim O’Connor in the late 1970’s. He later spent time at Orange and Warwick Farm with trainer Laurie Beuzeville but became disillusioned when his riding involvement failed to progress beyond trackwork. A transfer to Port Macquarie trainer Glen Hodge proved to be life changing on three counts. His riding career took off, a successful training career followed and the popular mid north coast town has become his home for life.
John is one of many racing participants who pay scant regard to the keeping of records. He thinks he rode around 200 winners on the north coast circuit but can’t be sure. He says a horse called Stairway was his first winner at just his second race ride in 1978, and he recalls outriding his country claim in 1980. John has fond memories of a few north coast Cup wins - a Taree Cup on Just A Prince and Kempsey, Wauchope and Gladstone Cups on the Harry Leroy trained Bold Bazza. He hasn’t forgotten his only metropolitan ride on a big grey called Quaint Prince at Randwick. The saddle slipped badly and he had to be content with third placing.
His training career began in the mid 1990’s and he quickly established a reputation as a dedicated hands-on trainer. He says he’s never had a top class horse in the stable, but has been lucky enough to train some consistent country performers. Fioruci, Mighty Magic, Prince Of Prague, Safe Image and Komang were all prolific winners on northern tracks. Komang also won a race at Rosehill in 1995 with Glen Boss on board.
John Sprague getting ready for the short walk to Port Macquarie racecourse with one of his runners 27/02/2023.
Four individual winners for the month from an eight horse team makes John Sprague a worthy winner of the Pryde’s EasiFeed Country Trainer of The Month Award for February. Twelve bags of the Pryde’s product of John’s choice will soon land in his Port Macquarie stables.
(Banner image - Moon Over Alice (Reece Jones) wins a Class 3 on the Beaumont track at Newcastle 13/01/2023 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
