News

Pracey's Faith In Apprentice Pays Off

3rd May 2011

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Sunday, 1 May 2011

Hawkesbury trainer Joan Pracey gave gun apprentice Josh Adams his start in racing and he repaid her yesterday by riding Upstacker to her biggest win in racing.

Adams got Upstacker home by a short-head from Debelle in the Reavill Farm Handicap on the colt's home track but had to survive a protest after the two-year-old ran out under pressure.

Stewards ruled that although Upstacker ran out in the final 150 metres it did not interfere with Debelle until they bumped a couple of strides before the line and it was not enough to reverse the placings.

The result was worth more than $100,000 to connections because of the $50,000 Inglis bonus and $20,000 from the BOBS scheme.

''I spent my first three months with Joan and I owe her a lot,'' Adams said.

''She really needed that win and it was a good way to paid her back in some way.''

Pracey's win carried a sting for bookies, with Upstacker backed from $26 to $19 in the ring.

She said she had set him for the race because it was on his home track.