Sparkup snaps 825-day winning drought with emotional victory at Morphettville

Veteran galloper Sparkup snapped an 825-day winning drought, but it was the emotional significance of the win that overwhelmed connections at Morphettville on Saturday.

Sparkup, ridden by Ben Price, wins at Morphettville on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Veteran galloper Sparkup snapped an 825-day winning drought, but it was the emotional significance of the win that overwhelmed connections at Morphettville on Saturday.

The seven-year-old, who last saluted at Strathalbyn in 2022, hunted down race favourite Bad Detective in a 0-65 Handicap (1550m) for a comfortable two-length win under jockey Ben Price.

Trained by Kirsten Mooney at Oakbank, it was Sparkup’s first win for Mooney since debuting for her stable in March last year but it was Price’s presence in the saddle that fuelled sentiment attached to the win, with Price’s late mother, Belinda, a close friend of Mooney and the ownership group.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“I’m so proud of him, and to have Ben ride him, it makes it an emotional day,” Mooney said.

“We were all pretty close to Belinda, growing up with her.

“I said to Benny ‘when you win on him, and it will happen’, and he promised me it will happen.

“I think that (today) means a lot.”

Sparkup hunts down the leader & steams clear to get back into the winner's circle for the first time since 2022 🙌@[e-mail]/JO1RA2iJhZ

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 1, 2025

• Arch All-Star bound? 'That sounds like a Monday problem'

It was Price’s first win for Mooney, with the young gun jockey striking a purple patch of form recently, with four winners over the Port Lincoln Cup Carnival earlier in the week.

“I’ve sort of grown up around Kir and her family all my life,” Price said.

“I’m rapt to ride a city winner for them, they’ve put in the hard work with this horse, they’ve had to tinker around with a few things.

“He made a mess of them just then, he was really good.”

Dubai Focus was also an impressive winner on the nine-race card for trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor. Steered by Jason Holder, the gelding showed his class with a dominant all-the-way win in a Benchmark 72 over 1400m.

It's a stunning performance from Dubai Focus who leads all the way to make it back-to-back wins 🔥@aaronbainracingpic.twitter.com/1VYP6C37gW

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 1, 2025

• G1 Australian Guineas: What the jockeys said

In-form mare Mintulee did her best to replicate that performance in the following race.

The daughter of Russian Revolution pinged the gates under apprentice hoop Alan Lai, took up the lead and kicked away for a commanding win for trainers Shayne and Chelsea Cahill.

Victorian visitor Makalu produced the blowout result of the day, saluting at $27 (Sportsbet) in the final race for trainer Liam Howley.

Riding honours went to metro premiership leader Rochelle Milnes, who nailed another city treble with wins aboard Sebonna, Rocket Boosters and Porter.

The result capped off a brilliant week for the gun apprentice, who sealed back-to-back hometown cup wins in the Port Lincoln Cup on Friday.

Originally published as Sparkup snaps 825-day winning drought with emotional victory at Morphettville