Choir Boy primed for Townsville's 2YO Classic

Photo credit: Mike Mills

By Jordan Gerrans

Carl Spry made his name in northern Australia getting success out of tried horses, and the Townsville-based trainer is now turning his attention to the babies.

The dual-licensed trainer-jockey has been based in north Queensland for just over a year after five successful years of racing in Darwin.

The father of three enjoyed plenty of carnival success while in the Northern Territory and moved across to Townsville with a team of mostly tried horses.

It took a while for the Spry team to develop consistent results in the north, but they have been firing of late, training four winners from his last 12 starters.

Two of those victories have been with impressive youngster Choir Boy, who this Saturday heads to the annual 1200-metre $100,000 QTIS 2YO Classic at Cluden Park.

The son of Divine Prophet did not blow Spry away when he first arrived at his barn earlier this year but he has been pleasantly surprised by his speedy development.

After spending time on the Gold Coast earlier this month at the Magic Millions sales, Spry thinks QTIS-eligible horses are the way his stable will go into the future, moving away from the his old “structure” of picking up tried gallopers.

“With the QTIS bonuses on offer, it is just too good right now to not have QTIS eligible horses,” Spry said.

“The clients like it and the bonuses are there.

“We are racing for $100,000 in Townsville this Saturday, it is good money.

“It is the way the clients want to venture down and the fellas that bought him have horses everywhere around Australia.

“This is more the way to go with QTIS horses, there is plenty of races for them.”

The unbeaten Choir Boy is raced by a group of friends based all around Australia, who Spry rode for when back in the Northern Territory and long promised him a two-year-old to train one day.

The QTIS 2YO Classic at Cluden Park launched the stunning career of reigning Stradbroke Handicap winner Tyzone in 2016 and a strong field will assemble to contest the 2021 edition.

Tennessee Boy, who is trained by respected Tablelands horseman Roy Chillemi - who also looked after Tyzone - won the race last year.

“I have only been here for 12 months so to have a runner in one of our major feature races with a live chance, it is good,” Spry said.

“I am happy to have a horse in it.”

Choir Boy was a surprise winner on debut in late April, bolting in by almost two lengths at massive odds, before following it up with a smart second-up effort a fortnight later.

Spry, who will ride Choir Boy on Saturday from barrier 11, says he couldn’t have his promising youngster any better for the Classic.

“He is going good, he is bright and he is well,” Spry said.

“He is ticking the right boxes and this race will be his test within the deep end.

“We only have had him since March, he had not even been barrier passed yet.

"He has done a big job in that time, he has just come to hand quickly.”

Spry’s wife, Sarah Acornley, an accomplished horsewomen herself, has recently taken out her own trainers licence and has had two gallopers go around in her name this month.

Also, at Townsville on Saturday, Cleveland Bay champion Grey Missile makes his return to north Queensland racing after most recently being with the Edmonds team on the Gold Coast.

Reigning Country Cups Challenge champion Paniagua also makes his return in the Open Handicap, alongside Grey Missile.