Sue Grills will head to Sydney for a Highway Handicap with up-and-coming Somerton Sniper after the huge gelding’s strong win in yesterday’s $30,000 McDonalds Tamworth Country Boosted Class 2 Handicap (1000m).
The massive four-year-old son of Shotting Win was having his third race today and followed a last-start success at Armidale with a stirring win on his home track.
He was also the fourth win in the blossoming career of 20-year-old apprentice Jack Baker.
The young apprentice is on loan to Sue Grills at Tamworth after starting his riding career on the Gold Coast.
He is the son of former Cups-winning jockey Garry Baker who started his career as an apprentice to the late, great Keith Swan at Somerton before blossoming further in Tamworth riding Cup winners for the likes of Merv Corliss.
“He’s a big horse,” young Jack said of Somerton Sniper.
“A lovely horse to ride though. A good-natured horse and I think he will be better over a bit more distance.”
Sue Grills loves Somerton Sniper.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” she said.
“Big, a heavy horse. It was a big jump in class today but Jack rode him well. I told him to make sure he got him out (of the barriers) and he travelled so well. He’s a lovely horse.”
She had no hesitation in giving the ride to Jack either.
“If the kids don’t get a chance how can they get better?” she said.
“Jack rode him in both his trials too.”
She has a Highway Handicap as his next appointment and that was another reason she started him at Tamworth yesterday.
“To see if he was good enough,” she answered.
“On that win he is.”
Somerton Sniper stands around 17 hands and is heavy. Jack Baker is 20 and learning.
“He’s had two wins for me and two for Ian Cook,” Sue Grills said.
An apprentice for five months Jack Baker had a simple answer as to why he’s riding here.
“Love it,” he said.
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