SPARE BOOKS HIS PLACE IN ATTARD'S MEMORY

THURSDAY: July 2, 2026: SPARE is one of the best named horses currently racing – but there was much more to his brilliant breakthrough victory at Hawkesbury today.

The now four-year-old’s belated beginning to his career was worth the wait when he romped away with the Essential Asset & Fire Midway 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1000m) at only his second start.

Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard was understandably thrilled to see the son of Harry Angel (Spare is the name of Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir book) produce a performance he always believed he could.

It wasn’t only the fact that the gelding, a solidly supported $4 second favorite, dominated the race under jockey Rory Hutchings, beginning brilliantly and leading throughout to trounce $2 favorite Our Lady Peace by nearly five lengths.

Attard bred Spare from the now deceased mare Reiby Regina, who was his first city winner at Canterbury on December 12, 2012 at $11.

“That was a pretty special result today,” Attard said this evening.

“Reiby Regina was the first foal I delivered when I worked for the late Hawkesbury Race Club director Syd Kelly at his Reibycroft Stud at Freemans Reach.

“When Syd decided to cut back with his horses, I bought her privately from him.

“It was mainly on sentiment, but she was also by Commands, and I really liked that stallion’s stock when I was breaking in horses for the Inghams.

“I won three races (two at Wyong and the other at Kembla Grange) with Reiby Regina’s first foal Reiby’s Regent, and Spare is her fourth.

“To say I have liked him from day dot would be an understatement.

“He is a really lovely horse, but I’ve had to be patient with him as he has been immature.

“It’s been a long wait getting him to the races, but it was all worthwhile today.

“And it was especially pleasing to have Rory Hutchings on him. He’s a good mate.

“Unfortunately, Reiby Regina had to be euthanased last year because of feet problems and I didn’t want to see her suffer, but I still have two more so far unraced filly foals; a three-year-old by Graff and two-year-old by Acrobat.”

Attard’s other home track runner Girly Pop ($21) finished second to Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Funshow ($3.50) in the Brad Widdup Racing Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

Attard said apprentice Olivia Chambers did an amazing job to stay on Girly Pop after both she and Widdup’s $2 favorite Mind Ya Bizz (third) were severely hampered when Bernen Win went amiss passing the 400m, and dislodged his rider Louise Day.

Whilst Day was cleared by ambulance officers of any apparent injury, RacingNSW stewards stood her down from her remaining ride as a precautionary measure because of the impact of the fall.

Kurrinda Bloodstock’s Funshow, a three-year-old son of Cosmic Force, has now won two in a row after minor placings at his first four starts.

Whilst Widdup had no luck with Mind Ya Bizz and also Viva Macaco ($10) and Seven Days ($3.60), respective runners-up in the Family 19 July 2YO Maiden Handicap, 1000m and Noelene Memorial Class 1 Handicap, 1000m, he struck back with Satono Jasmine ($4.60), who also made it two in a row by impressively taking the Good Luck James Heddo Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).

The promising filly ironically defeated retiring Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive James Heddo’s Squeezebox ($4.80), which he part-owns, but it isn’t likely to be her last win.

Following a hollow Gosford Maiden (1600m) triumph on June 18, she burst clear to score by nearly four lengths.

“I’m looking forward to getting her out over 2000m,” Widdup said.

“But I’ll see how she pulls up and how she does in the coming days before making a decision as to her immediate program.”

Satono Jasmine’s success kept Widdup in the hunt for a second successive Hawkesbury premiership after main rival Chris Waller had reeled off a treble (Jaipur Maison, Pink Persuasion and Viva Mauricio) in the first four races.

The pair is now locked together on 14 wins, with only one meeting left on July 19 to close the season.