Dynamic duo unite
EAGLE Farm trainer Chris Anderson is hoping to continue his good strike rate with the nine-times Gold Coast premiership-winning jockey Daniel Griffin when they team up at Aquis Park today.
Griffin has a 27.3 per cent win strike rate on Andersontrained horses, which is a close second to the 30.4 statistic that leading Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne has with Anderson.
“I have a really good strike rate with Dan, to be honest,” Anderson said.
“He is a great jock and happy to have him on and they call him ‘The King Of The Coast’ for a reason’.”
Anderson has accepted with seven runners for today’s meeting but will finalise his numbers this morning with Griffin booked to ride three of them.
Anderson and Griffin will team up in the first race, the QTIS 2YO Handicap (1100m), with She’s A Tigress who is coming off a third in a 900m 2YO Class 1 Plate at the Sunshine Coast on February 29.
“She probably found the 900m a little short last start after having a 10-day break,” Anderson said. “She has taken really good improvement from that.
“She has drawn an awkward gate but I will leave it to Dan where he will put her.
“I think she will go there an each-way chance for sure.”
Griffin will also be aboard Connoisseur, who will carry the equal top weight in the BenchMark 78 Handicap (900m), but Anderson is confident
he will be able to handle the 59kg.
Connoisseur is coming off a first-up second in a 1000m Open Handicap at the Sunshine Coast two weeks ago and Anderson expects the five-year-old will strip a lot fitter and figure in the money again.
“Connoisseur, he was terrific first-up,” he said. “He will strip fitter but has a bit of
weight to overcome but it is only 900m.
“He is a tough horse and I’d say once again he will be hard to beat.”
Griffin is also booked to ride Penasquito for the Eagle Farm trainer in the Class 3 Handicap (1200m) but Anderson is cautious about his chances against a slightly stronger field than he faced last start when second in a 1200m Class 2 Handicap at the Gold Coast three weeks ago.
“Penasquito, he was terrific last start. They went crazy up front and he ran on to run second. It is a really strong Class 3 race (today),” Anderson said. “Hopefully we will end up with a double and have a good day.”
Anderson will also saddle up Wurnic in the 1800m
Maiden Handicap with Anthony Allen booked to ride while Sugar Zone’s rider in the Class 1 Plate (1400m) will be finalised this morning.
Anderson said Coach would be scratched from the Class 3 Handicap after drawing a wide barrier and Duchess Of Rose, who is an acceptor in the Class 1 Plate, will be kept for Eagle Farm next Wednesday.