Breeders bonus for Grylls
TRISH DUNELL VICTORY in the Group III Cambridge Breeders Stakes (1200m) yesterday was a bonus for popular jockey Craig Grylls.
The hardworking hoop had won the Group II Travis Stakes aboard Mime earlier on the Cambridge Jockey Club’s programme at Te Rapa and made it a blacktype double with another patient ride.
He waited for the gaps to appear on Mime and did the same on Sweet Leader, who is trained at Matamata by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
Grylls got the big thumbs up from former legendary jockey, O’Sullivan.
‘‘It was a good ride,’’ O’Sullivan said. ‘‘It was pretty much like his ride on Mime – he showed patience.’’
Grylls was his usual humble self, thankful to be given the opportunity to ride the talented gallopers.
‘‘I was happy to get the call to ride Mime and I’m always happy to ride for Lance and Andrew,’’ he said.
The win aboard Sweet Leader in the light, misty rain wasn’t without its challenges.
‘‘My goggles fogged up, so I got rid of them and the horse was going keenly but he was strong when the runs came,’’ he said.
Sweet Leader was something of a step into the unknown for his astute trainers at his first start since undergoing an operation in an attempt to rectify a wind problem.
‘‘He’s had a wind operation since his last run,’’ O’Sullivan said. ‘‘He looked extremely well and his work was good and suggested he was forward enough to go a big race.’’
While all the outwardly signs were positive, O’Sullivan said a race was always going to be the true
‘ I’m always happy to ride for Lance and Andrew.’ LANCE O’SULLIVAN
test.
‘‘The operation went well, but you never really know with these things until they are put under the pressure of a race – it looks like the operation worked.’’
The trainers now have a problem – where to next?
‘‘We sort of don’t know where to from here,’’ O’Sullivan said. ‘‘We’ll have a talk to his owners [in Hong Kong, where O’Sullivan heads today] and decide what’s next.’’
Sweet Leader had won twice before his wind problem arose, and has now won three times from five starts.
Honey Rider ran second, threequarters of a length behind the winner, with Flamingo third.