Tegan Harrison cuddle and a song just the tonic to spark Monster Of Energy

BRIAN Smith heaped praise Andrew Spinks and Tegan Harrison after the stable landed a winning double with Shuda Known Better and Monster Of Energy.

Monster Of Energy scores a solid win at Eagle Farm. Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

BRIAN Smith heaped praise on jockeys Andrew Spinks and Tegan Harrison after the stable landed a winning double with Shuda Known Better and Monster Of Energy at Eagle Farm.

Monster Of Energy built on his affinity with Eagle Farm after Harrison waited patiently before pressing the button.

“I said ‘don’t go too soon’ on him and Tegan just cuddled him for as long as she could. She really gets on well with this horse,” Smith said.

Harrison revealed post-race she had a special tune she sings to “The Monster” during his races and it worked a treat on Saturday.

Wily trainer Smith said Spinks was a hard worker who deserved more opportunities.

“I think he’s a very handy rider,” he said.

Smith said fitness was important at the new Eagle Farm and Spinks had long been confident Shuda Known Better was right for this surface.

“I had watched his replays and felt that was the right way to ride her, by getting her to settle. She had tended to over-race when she was ridden forward,” Spinks said.

‘LUCKY’ MURPHY OUT OF ACTION FOR SIX WEEKS

EAGLE Farm trainer David Murphy had what he described as a “lucky” escape at trackwork on Saturday, but the outcome sounds anything but fortunate.

Murphy, a former champion apprentice who rides all his horses in work, took a tumble on Saturday and was later told he had fractured the C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck.

“I was galloping a horse and it took fright at the winning post, shied and I came off,” Murphy said.

“I was lucky. I still had a few more to work and even though it was pretty sore, I rode another one, but the next one, I just couldn’t get on the thing.”

Murphy then went to the chemist to get a neck brace and after initially refusing advice to go to hospital, called an ambulance when he had no feeling in his left hand.

“I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t even move. So I went in the ambulance and they told me I have fractures to the C6 and C5 in my neck.”

Murphy was told an operation would not help him and therefore he needs to be in a neck brace for six weeks, but he hopes to return sooner.

THE QUOTES

“No wonder you had six of them ringing up to ride it.”

— jockey Glen Colless to connections as he dismounted from runaway winner Secret Puzzle. Trainer Les Ross explained the horse had been double booked, with Michael Cahill also down to ride. Further, Colless had pulled the pin on a mount for similar connections last month because he couldn’t make the 54kg weight and it seemed they had some concerns it might happen again with Secret Puzzle.

“Big difference this time. The last one was 100-1, this was second favourite. He was always going to make the weight.”

— trainer Les Ross

Secret Puzzle, ridden by Glen Colless, skips away from his rivals at Eagle Farm. Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

Originally published as Tegan Harrison cuddle and a song just the tonic to spark Monster Of Energy