Esprit Lad 11/10/09

Farmer to salute with comeback galloper at Coonamble
RacenetSaturday, 10 October 2009
Walgett farmer and hobby trainer Richard Jackson credits the wonders of modern science - stem cell surgery to be exact - and lengthy rehabilitation for enabling talented sprinter Esprit Lad’s racetrack return.
On Coonamble Cup day, Sunday, Esprit Lad continues his comeback in the $15,000 Keady Family Open (1100m). The five-year-old has drawn barrier one and will be ridden by Dale Spriggs.
ps He led all the way, won by a nose and took his earnings to $52,800 from his six wins (five placings) from seventeen starts
The Open, secondary feature to the $30,000 Coonamble Cellars & Sky Channel Coonamble Cup (1600m), represents an important stepping stone for Esprit Lad.
After winning at Narromine in August last year, the gelding suffered a tendon injury that threatened his future.
“He had stem cell surgery and we gave him a lengthy rehabilitation, 13 months away from racing,” Jackson said. “It was time consuming but, while those types of injuries are always in the back of your mind, I think he’s back.
“Because of the time off it’s just taken a while to get him fit again. He built up but wasn’t gross.
“It’s not been so much the extra weight, more so getting him race fitness.
“You can’t work the guts out of them quickly, especially being mindful of his previous injury.
“His last run in Brisbane (third up) was really good. We got 30-1 about him. “He was a bit wide and the stewards report noted he got bumped at the start and at the 900 metres.
“He’s trained on good and is pretty close to the mark.”
Esprit Lad led until the shadows of the post at Doomben finishing fourth, beaten under a length to Joint Chiefs over 1020m.
Jackson, 50, licensed for 30 years, is no stranger to having a decent horse. He prepared 10-time winner Doctor Danzig and trained Novak and Miss Munda early in their careers before the pair went to Barry Bennett in Melbourne and won multiple metropolitan races.
The owners of Esprit Lad - Walgett farmers Paul Wickman, Michael and Jim O’Brien and Ray Pike - also enjoyed plenty of success with Bungambra Lad.
Esprit Lad was one of two horses purchased by Jackson at the Adelaide Magic Million sales. Esprit Lad cost $16,000, has already won $43,050, and the other horse Waljai has a win and 13 placing’s from 27 starts.
Jackson rides his small team work on his 10,000 acre, sheep, wheat and cattle property, occasionally venturing to Coonamble for fast work.
“I‘m a farmer, the horses are my outlet that stop me from going crazy,” Jackson joked. “Esprit Lad took a bit of time to mature. He’s a horse with a lot of character and likes to get up to a bit of mischief.
“He’s very relaxed though and switches on on raceday.
“If he goes good Sunday we’ll go back to Brisbane on the 24th (November).”