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Journeyman Carl Spry to feature at Rockhampton

18 February 2022

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carl.jpgBy Tony McMahon

Widely travelled jockey Carl Spry, now based in Townsville where he holds a dual licence, brings his race riding gear south to Callaghan Park races on Saturday.

The 37-year-old has a full book of five rides at the Rockhampton Jockey Club TAB card.

Spry’s first venture back to Rockhampton where he was once temporality based took place on December 4 last year where he and Coome had a field day with three winners.

In a remarkable career which quite possibly could be unprecedented in Australia, Spry has ridden on no fewer than 107 different racecourses with winners bobbing up here, there and everywhere.

It all started with his first winner aboard Smart Showoff at Kumbia on New Year’s Day 2001.

By no means boastful, and blessed with an astute racing and business mind, Carl has ridden winners all over Australia.

 “I have ridden winners in every State and Territory throughout Australia and that includes the ACT,” he said.

After digging deeper into the bowels of racing records, it was confirmed that Carl Spry was true to his word.

His wins form a geography lesson, from the NT (Darwin, Alice Springs etc); Tasmania (Hobart and Launceston); WA (Kununurra); SA (Naracoorte); ACT (Canberra, Queanbeyan); Victoria (Wangaratta, Wodonga); as well as numerous wins throughout NSW out Queensland.

“I just started travelling (around 2008) and took my riding gear with me and rode before settling in Darwin for four years around 2016,” he said.

Aided immeasurably by his partner Sarah Acornley, the couple enjoyed outstanding success with Carl riding 129 winners at Fannie Bay, well up on his earlier career wins of 89 at Brisbane metropolitan tracks.

Gayndah born, the son of a trainer Winston (Whippy) and wife Faye Spry of Sir Tatt notoriety and brother of Peter Spry who rode the program of winners there in 1986, Carl has well and truly been around.

He was also indentured to the Darryl Gollan stable and then for the last few years of apprenticeship to Barry Squair - both in Toowoomba.

So much so he can lay claims to being the jockeying version of Lucky Starr’s popular 1962 rendition of the song of I’ve been Everywhere.

Carl and Sarah and their children moved to Townsville in 2020 where they train and operate out of the very appropriately named Journeyman Lodge Racing Stables.

This they did so for family reasons, and not surprisingly those winners are ticking over at Cluden racecourse.

At Callaghan Park on Saturday, there is every likelihood that Carl Spry will build on his tally of 585 race winners.