Griffin Slam Dunks Them on Debut

The Te Akau Slam Dunk Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) had the best possible start when Griffin (2 g Iffraaj - Double Elle, by Generous) recorded a smart debut win in the $10,000 Don Griffiths Trenching Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 3 May at Matamata.

With big shoes to fill, the year younger brother of stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj), who swept all before him in recent times when winning three-year-old staying classics in New Zealand, and Australia, Griffin was easy in the market to start at $17.10 & $3.40 on the tote but sprinted home on slow footing like a two to one shot.

No better than midfield on the inner and hemmed away five lengths astern at the 600m, rider Michael McNab made a winning move to save ground near the rail around the home turn and although still three lengths from the leader at the 200m he finished impressively to win going away by a neck.

Under clear skies, on improving Slow7 ground, Griffin ran the 1200 metres in 1:13.5 and 36.6 for the last 600m.

“He's a little beauty and more or less exactly the same as Gingernuts,” McNab said. “When I really asked him to stretch he got out and started chasing hard. He was doing it pretty easy over the last 100 metres and started to have a good look around. He's a very nice horse.

“He knew what he was really here for today, and he's a real racehorse. He got back after being a bit fractious in the gates, but would have learned heaps and showed how good he was.

“He's another beautiful horse bought by Dave (Ellis) and it's a pleasure to be riding for the stable.”

On the back of Grazia (Savabeel) and Splurge (Savabeel) winning on Saturday, Griffin continued a good roll for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards.

“It was a very good effort,” Autridge said. “He hit the line very well and shows that he's taking after his brother (Gingernuts), and the further he goes the better he will be.

“We'll talk to connections and David Ellis, and I'm picking he might go to the paddock now but we can all be very happy.

“It was a very good two-year-old race and there was plenty of talent,” said Autridge, who also had Pacific Coast (Snitzel) work home late for sixth on footing that thwarted his ability to really quicken.

After purchasing Gingernuts as a two-year-old for $42,500 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, and seeing his most important successes in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), and Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m) realise over one-million dollars in prize money, the winning debut by Griffin gave Te Akau principal David Ellis a special thrill.

“Jamie (Richards) went to see this horse at the breeder's property and encouraged me to buy him - I asked Karyn if she wanted to syndicate him - she said yes and the shares flew out the window - so it's great for those people who jumped at the opportunity,” Ellis said.

“At the time, Gingernuts had been showing plenty of potential in work and Jamie suggested that Griffin was a very classy yearling.  We bought the horse for $90,000 on Gavelhouse, which is a very well run online auction site owned by New Zealand Bloodstock, and it was quite an exciting way to buy a horse.

“We have some very loyal clients as owners in Griffin, but only Bill Taylor shares ownership in both horses.

“Steve and Jamie have done an outstanding job with this horse, to get him ready to win first up and it was great to see Michael McNab, who works for us and rides work every morning, get the winning ride.

“The horse is stabled with Kerry Jones in the main stable and it's amazing the success that stable has had. Kerry has been on holiday for the past week, as she prepares to go over and look after the horses Te Akau has campaigning during the Queensland Carnival in Brisbane, and Milou Grylls has been looking after the horses really well.

"It's a great thrill for all the staff, and everybody involved in the racing industry because they all know Gingernuts and now they know his younger brother.”

In victory on debut, Griffin actually went one better than Gingernuts, who had finished strongly for second on debut to impressive stable-mate Hall of Fame (Savabeel), a subsequent Group One winner, in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres at Pukekohe, before winning his second start in May 2016 over 1300 metres at Hastings.

Accepting on behalf of the owners, Julia-Rose Ellis said: “Mum (Karyn Fenton-Ellis) and David can't be here today, but it's great to be part of an industry day here at Matamata, and the win by Griffin is a massive thrill for everyone. We're excited to have him in the team, hopefully he develops into another Gingernuts, and congratulations to all the owners and Steve and Jamie for training him”.

Also in attendance to witness the victory was breeder Chris Thompson, from Urenui, northern Taranaki.

“Te Akau does a fantastic job with all their horses and thanks to everyone who has bought into these two horses,” said Thompson, who bought the mare Double Elle, while carrying Griffin, at the New Zealand Bloodstock Mixed Sale in August 2014 and shares in the ownership.

“She (Double Elle) won five races in Australia, when trained by Chris Waller, and I've always had a shying for mares by Generous.

“I've been in racing and bred a few horses for thirty-five years and the first horse I had won four races. She was an Imperial Seal mare and I bred from her, but decided to change tack around 2010 and buy a few mares from the sales. I've got four at home at the moment and often leave them (empty) a year to see how the progeny perform.

“John Wheeler had an earlier foal from the mare called Runway, by Pins, and she won a few, so having Gingernuts and now Griffin is a dream come true.

“I have an outstanding filly foal from Double Elle, at home, by Jakkalberry, and she is in foal to him again. But, I will have to decide about going back to Iffraaj. I'll probably have to sell the Jakkalberry filly, but first things first I'll have to talk things over with David (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) because they have both been very good to me.

“He (Griffin) was just the best young horse to have as a colt on the property, and I'm sure that going forward his great temperament will take him along way.  I always liked this horse and whatever he's done as a two-year-old is just a plus for what's ahead. He won it pretty easily.”

A very well balanced horse, Griffin paraded in terrific order beforehand and strapped by Jasmine Fawcett.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz