CANT MAR 10 - ONCE WERE WILD AND GRIFFON SET FOR BIGGER THINGS

By Scott Gooley | Thursday, March 11, 2010

Promising gallopers Once Were Wild and Griffon continued to build on their impressive records with respective wins at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Gai Waterhouse’s Once Were Wild was the first to step out in the McGrath Foundation LunchHandicap (1800m).

Coming off four consecutive wins, the daughter of Johannesburg was the obvious choice, with punters sending her out as the raging $1.40 favourite.

Those prepared to take the short quote were given little reason for concern. Once Were Wild ridden by Nash Rawiller, jumped straight to the front and dominated her four rivals to score a five and half length win.

In the following event, Theraces.com.au Handicap (1100m), Bart Cummings produced the four year old gelding Griffon who was looking for his third consecutive win.

The son of Flying Spur, who was scratched from Saturday’s Warwick Farm meeting with a mild cough but cleared to race here, was also marked up as an outright favourite ($1.55) after his two impressive wins since his return from a spell.

In contrast to Once Were Wild, Griffon had his supporters concerned early. He jumped slowly and settling second last in the field of six runners.

As the field raced passed the 600m Griffon, ridden by Glyn Schofield, was being scrubbed along in an effort to make ground on the leading horses, six lengths in advance.

Sticking to the rails, Schofield had moved Griffon up to three lengths off the pace as El Zegri, with Kimberley Kid on his outside, led into the home straight.

At the final furlong pole, Kimberley Kid had run to a length lead from a tiring El Zegri which gave Schofield, who was trailing Kimberley Kid, the option to angle Griffon back to the rails.

The chase was on and it was only inside the last 75m that Griffon finally hit the lead and gave his supporters their chance to exhale as he held his rivals in the run to the line, scoring by half a length.

Canterbury, March 10, 2010.
Track - Good. Rail - out 6m.
BM 80 Handicap (3yo and up) - 1900m. Time: 1-55.88 (Carrying 55kg).
1 Once Were Wild; 2 Readiness; 3 Zafaaf.

WINNER FEEDBACK (Once Were Wild):
Gai Waterhouse (trainer of Once Were Wild): “She’s just too strong. She’s a fabulous filly.

“There were a few broken hearts around at the four and half furlongs and she just kept going and digging deep.

“She’s just a beautiful filly, as honest as the day is long and she’s got lot of wins ... good wins, in store. She’ll be heading to the Oaks.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller: “She bowled along at a nice strong tempo the whole way and sustained it really well.

“She’s a genuine chance in something like the Oaks because she’s going to be very well suited to the 2400m.

“Fillies she couldn’t possibly beat over a mile ... she’s going to be very strong at the end of 2400m.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When questioned, H Bowman could offer no excuse for the disappointing performance of Kossack, which was resuming today following a three month break from racing. He added that the gelding travelled well following the leader and eventual winner, Once Were Wild, throughout the early and middle stages, however did not respond to his riding approaching the 600m and, particularly when the early sectionals were quick, he felt that the gelding was entitled to finish its race off better than it did today.

A post race veterinary examination of Kossack did not reveal any abnormalities. Trainer Mr C Waller undertook to report back on the progress of the gelding.

Canterbury, March 10, 2010.
Track - Good. Rail - out 6m.
BM 82 Handicap (3yo and up) - 1100m. Time: 1-03.78 (Carrying 56kg).
1 Griffon; 2 Nightofthegeneral; 3 Kimberley Kid.

WINNER FEEDBACK (Griffon):
Trainer Bart Cummings: “He overcame it all, had a nice run along the fence and it was never in doubt. He hasn’t been beaten for a while. He’s going well.”

Jockey Glyn Schofield: “He was always travelling comfortably for the position he got back to.”

“He was a bit fresh today of course, having missed a couple of starts due to one or two very small things but he showed he’s back to his best.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Griffon, which was a late withdrawal on veterinary advice from its engagement at Warwick Farm on Saturday, 6 March 2010, for which a veterinary certificate of clearance had since been received, was inspected by the Club's Veterinary Officer on its arrival at the track and passed fit to start.

Griffon and Kimberley Kid both jumped awkwardly.

When questioned regarding the performance of El Zegri, App. T Berry stated, in his opinion, the gelding did not appreciate the firmer track today. He added that the gelding travelled well to the entrance to the straight, however, disappointed in its failure to finish the race off. Post race veterinary examinations of El Zegri and Spirilina did not reveal any abnormalities.