Griffin hunts grand finale
GOLD COAST
DANIEL Griffin needs just two winners to put an exclamation mark on his distinguished riding career, which will come to an end next Saturday at the Gold Coast.
Griffin, chasing a remarkable 10th Gold Coast jockeys premiership, needs one win to draw level with Ryan Plumb and two to win the title outright.
With Plumb on the sidelines, he is hopeful of achieving the feat today but if not, he has next week as well, given the Coast will not race on the last Saturday of the season, July 25.
The decision to retire is not something that sits easily with Griffin but it has become a necessity.
“I have been struggling with weight over the past six months, so my GP had blood tests done and I then had to see a blood specialist,” the 39year-old said.
“I’ve been told my organs will start to shut down if I keep wasting, so the blood specialist has advised me to pull up.
“It’s going to be a hard pill to swallow. I’ve been doing it for so long.
“I left school and this is
GRIFFIN’S AQUIS PARK RIDES ON SATURDAY
Race 1: Peppino ................. $6 Race 3: Special Flight .. $6 fav Race 4: Delector ... $4.60 fav Race 5: Snowzone ............ $11 Race 6: Trevello ........... $7.50 Race 7: Rossmay ............... $8 Race 8: Duneagle ........ $4.40
AQUIS PARK GUIDE STARTS PAGE 39
what I’ve done ever since. To do something different is going to be out of left field, for sure.”
Griffin has decided to set up a lawnmowing business as his next occupation.
He says that will, at long last, allow him to have some weekends off, which opens up time to spend with eightyear-old daughter Ayla.
But that’s not before he goes after title No. 10 over the next two Saturdays.
“My book (today) doesn’t look too bad on paper,” Griffin said.
“There’s a couple there that look really good chances.
“Hopefully I can get those last two winners I need. My fiancee (fellow jockey Taylor Williams) has been a great support in going after it.”
The Gold Coast was the first racetrack Griffin that went to as a spectator and it fired his ambition to be a part of racing.
Little did he know he would become synonymous with the venue over the next quarter century, as his riding career deviated a couple of times before landing on the glitter strip.
“I was going pretty average up here, then went to Sydney to Bryan Guy and ran second in the apprentices’ premiership and spent 22 months down there,” said Griffin, who now lives on the Sunshine Coast.
“I came back to Peter Moody (in Brisbane) and won the Queensland apprentice title but then had my arm reconstructed and spent six months out.
“Melissa Shield was managing me and she sent me to the Gold Coast after I came back and that set me on the path.
“I’m a heavyweight and to get the opportunities in town, there isn’t as many.
“I had better opportunities on the Coast and that’s where I stayed. I have had a lot of supporters down there, as well as the club being very supportive.”
In recent years, Griffin has endured a series of injuries, notably a knee reconstruction, a broken neck and dislocated shoulder, but he won’t feel the pain if those last two winners arrive.
“I’ve been riding with it dislocating at the moment. I need to go in for more surgery. I will book in after the season is done,” he said.