Griffin Gets the Biscuits - Again!

In similar manner to his win last Thursday at Wairoa, Griffin (4 g Iffraaj - Double Elle, by Generous) made it back-to-back wins on the course when taking out the $12,000 Colliers International Rating 72 1500 metres on Sunday 24 February.

Remaining in the same grade, following victory in the
Rating 72 1300 metres, Griffin carried an extra two kilos, but remained nicely
weighted (56kgs) courtesy of a four-kilo claim by Te Akau apprentice Chelsea
Burdan and the pair have now racked up three wins and a second from four starts
in this campaign.

Once again, Griffin began cleanly to roll along in
second passing the 800m, pressed on to lead at the 400m and sustained a strong
gallop to win well.

A $2.70 & $1.40 race favourite, Griffin ran the
1400 metres in 1:27.9 on Dead4 footing and provided 18-year-old Burdan with her
fourth win.

A day after Te Akau trainer Jamie
Richards secured another Group One with Melody Belle (Commands), in the Haunui
Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki, saddled Yourdeel (Dundeel) to win
the Waikato Stud
Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) by six lengths at Matamata, and produced Sasso Corbaro
(All Too Hard) to win her first start for the stable, also at Otaki, Griffin
became the 73^rd victory this season for the premiership leader.

“It was a nice win on the back up
from Thursday,” Richards said. “He's strung a couple together, three this time
in, and Chelsea (Burdan) obviously gets on well with him. She's starting to
grow in confidence, looks better in a finish, and we see quite a promising
career ahead for her if she continues to work hard and stay disciplined.

“A big thanks to team down there,
Mason (Stevens), Chelsea, and Dad (Paul Richards), who have been looking after
the horses.

“Griffin is a horse that
certainly benefitted from a patient approach and a bit of time. We'll probably
give him a freshen-up now and he should continue working through the grades,
even as he matures and strengthens into next season.”

The brother to triple Group One
winner Gingernuts, Griffin was also purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis
and recorded his fourth win for the Te Akau Slam Dunk Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn
Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“After realising the talent of Gingernuts, I bought Griffin for $90,000 on Gavelhouse,” Ellis said. “He too has always shown ability and after winning his only start as a two-year-old we raced him in stakes' races at three.

“Jamie (Richards) has been patient with him and he's
come back at four and struck up a really good partnership with Chelsea (Burdan)
and it's not easy to win three out of four. She gave him another good ride and
we're desperate for more young jockeys like her in New Zealand.

“There's been a lack of investment in the search and development of jockeys in this country and it's great to see a young woman like Chelsea with so much potential and getting so much enjoyment from it. She's a good horsewoman and if she keeps working hard, I think she's a great chance of making the grade.

“We've got some fantastic female riders in New Zealand, like Samantha Collett, Lisa Allpress, Danielle Johnson, Rosie Myers and Sam Spratt, and they compete right up there with the boys, so Chelsea has some good role models.

“And of course her four-kilo weight claim is a
terrific advantage for a horse like Griffin who had been handicapped with
60kgs. It's the difference between winning and losing.

“It's great for the owners to have a double at Wairoa.
They're having a great Cup Day, with a lot of people on course, and it's
tremendous to see the huge turnouts and local involvement that these smaller
clubs are able to achieve.

Ellis was taking time out to watch the race after
inspecting the yearlings, and recap the weekend.

“I've spent the day selling yearling shares and it's
going really well,” Ellis said. “There's nothing that I enjoy more than taking
owners into the paddock and showing them the horses, and it's exciting because
these yearlings are the future of Te Akau Racing.

“They've all settled in beautifully in their paddocks,
loving the attention, and they look simply outstanding.

“It's been a sensational weekend. Jamie heads the premiership, is well in front on stake money and has the best strike rate of the top 25 trainers and I'm very proud of how it's all going.

“I'm looking forward to Derby Day next Saturday at
Ellerslie. We've got two nice chances in the Derby (In A Twinkling and Prise De
Fer) and they'll be ridden by Opie (Bosson) and Glen Boss, who's won three Melbourne
Cups and three Cox Plates.”

Griffin was strapped by Paul Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back