Jockey Zac Spain has irons snap aboard Amade during Adelaide Cup
Zac Spain aboard Amade in the Adelaide Cup.
Not many times does a rider finish fourth to the amount of acclaim that went the way of Zac Spain after a wild Adelaide Cup ride.
Excelleration edged out The Map to win the G2 Adelaide Cup (3200m), but that would be only to tell half the story of the race.
All eyes were on Zac Spain and topweight Amade from before the race even started, when an iron snapped and dislodged the hoop.
Both horse and hoop were able to overcome that issue but then Amade, as he can do, bungled the start of the race to be out the back.
They mustered to be worse than midfield, only for more drama to hit - Spain's other iron snapped, making a large portion of the two-mile race very tricky business for him.
Amazingly, the hoop kept his cool and tried to give Amade a chance, sweeping into the race on the turn before fading late to finish fourth, beaten a tick over three lengths, an incredible effort in the circumstances.Gee whiz , Zac Spain deserves a bravery medal ..
and some ice maybe .... 🥜
Lost irons early in a two mile race and was there to the end (4th) #amadepic.twitter.com/Eucp3zjvi3
- STEVE HEWLETT ðŸÂ‡ðŸÂŽ£ 🛥👩ÂÂÂÂÂðŸ...³ðŸ“»ðŸÂƒÂ™‚¸Â (@stevejoseph69) March 11, 2024
Speaking post-race, Spain said the misfortune was part of the game.
"Very frustrating to be honest, the horse is flying," Spain said.
"For that to happen is just very unlucky. I had one iron snap going to the barriers and fell off him and luckily the barrier boys had one behind there so we put another one on and then at the winning post the first time around my left iron snapped.
"That's racing, sometimes these things happen.
"From there out I just had to readjust and just tried to do my best."
Spain explained the equipment malfunction.
"Just where the pin was on both sides, it snapped. I used that saddle in race two earlier today and had no issues and when the big one comes around that happens," he said.
"The horse ran super, it's just unfortunate I couldn't get stuck into him and ride him to the best of my ability to the winning post.
"Where I was I couldn't really do anything because I was back on the rails. Luckily he's quite an easy horse to ride, he doesn't pull or anything. He definitely looked after me today."
Spain thought he was in a great position before the drama hit.
"Before the irons snapped I looked up and saw Jamie (Kah) on The Map in front of me and I just though 'how good is this, I'll be able to get on her back when I want to'.
"Even though the irons did snap I was able to follow her wherever she went but unfortunately I couldn't get stuck into him.
"He's a 10-year-old and that means he needs a bit of persuading sometimes. It's just unfortunate."
The other aspect of the ride was the pain the hoop endured.
"I'll be jumping straight in that ice bath, I'm already starting to get a bit tender."
Share your thoughts