Ingham brothers hoping for Sparks to fly in Cairns

By Garry Dell

Ingham's cane farming Russo brothers are pinning their hopes on an in-form journeyman jockey to give them a potential winning double in Cairns on Friday. 

The trio of trainer Joe and brothers Charlie and Angelo have given the reins of Mr Kobo and Private Sector to David Sparks who is coming off a riding double at Maxwelton last Saturday, including the $15,000 Maxwelton Cup.

Sparks, who celebrated his 45th birthday on Wednesday, will need to carry some "dead" weight on the Russo pair but he has plenty of knowledge about them, having moved to Ingham recently and riding them in trackwork.

Riding comfortably at 52 kilograms, Sparks will have to carry extra lead to make up Mr Kobo's weight of 56kg in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1250 metres) and 6.5 kg on Private Sector in the Benchmark 55 Handicap (950m). 

Both horses are resuming from lengthy spells but have been working well and showing they are forward in recent trials at Cluden Park.

Sparks said he was a "battler" from birth, having needed treatment for club feet.

"I weighed 33 kilograms when I began an apprenticeship with Colin Little in Melbourne and had my first ride at Bairnsdale at the age of 17," he said.

"I spent some time with Brian Cox before I went to Japan for 12 months and returned to Cox to finish my apprenticeship.

"Then it was up to Queensland as a fully-fledged jockey before heading off to Western Australia and riding at places like Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs and little places in-between.

"I also rode at King Island and in Tasmania and New South Wales."

Sparks returned to Queensland and linked up with Shryn Royes at Richmond and made a name for himself in Western Queensland.

Sparks won the Julia Creek Cup just before his biggest supporter, his grandmother, passed away and he retired from the racing game for five years.

"I did a bit of concreting and other stuff before Shryn talked me into making a comeback and here I am," he said.

'The boys have got four in work at the moment and I help another couple of trainers out."

Sparks will be on the road early again on Saturday on the way out to Julia Creek.

"Hopefully with a couple of wins already in the pocket," he said.

Joe Russo regained his training licence last year after taking a break while he was treated for stomach cancer.

"I was out for four years and came close to death but I pulled through and I'm enjoying life again," Russo said.

The brothers consider both horses are good chances in respective races on Friday.

Private Sector, previously with Lee Freedman at the Gold Coast, won first-up at Cluden Park 12 months ago and has plenty of ability but "bad habits" which Joe believes that they have overcome.