Craig Grylls is flying high again this season and looks to have the horsepower to continue that trend with strong books of rides at Hawera on Saturday and at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.
The 32-year-old, who currently sits atop the National Jockeys’ Premiership, has struck up a lucrative association with trainer Robbie Patterson and they will combine with a quartet of chances at the Taranaki fixture.
“We have been having a really good trot together, it’s been terrific and I’ve got some nice rides for him again,” he said.
Grylls also has a full book of rides at Pukekohe, including the plum mount aboard the Allan Sharrock-prepared Sinarahma in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m).
“I’m looking forward to riding her again, she has been pretty impressive in her last two starts so she has to be in with a great show,” he said.
Ahead of the premier Boxing Day meeting, Grylls will again be taking to the skies to head to Hawera when he and travelling partners board his Cessna 172 for the trip south.
“At this stage, the weather is looking good to fly down there so we won’t be home too late,” he said.
“Michael McNab will be coming with me and Andrew Forsman might be as well, but if he doesn’t then Wiremu Pinn will come instead.”
Grylls has seven rides at Hawera and singled out two of Patterson’s representatives as leading chances.
“Margherita Veloce won really nicely last time out and Maolla Miss was also pretty impressive the other day at Otaki, they both won well,” he said.
A daughter of Vespa, Margherita Veloce will line up in the John Todd Memorial (1400m) off the back of an easy course and distance victory at the beginning of the month.
Maolla Miss had no trouble breaking her maiden last time out and the Zed mare will front up in the Stella Artois (1600m).
Grylls will also be aboard Sharrock’s Ladies Man in the Landmark Homes City of New Plymouth Cup (2000m) to further his preparation for the Gr.3 NZ Campus For Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on January 28.
“My name is in the hat for the Cup, but I guess we have to see how it goes on Saturday and Allan has got his team flying at the moment,” he said.
Ladies Man was unplaced over 1600m last time out at Trentham after an interrupted run and will relish the step up to a middle distance.
Grylls is also looking forward to hopping aboard stablemate Sinarahma.
“I know Group Ones are hard to get, but you can’t really fault her and I’m obviously very happy to be on her,” he said.
Grylls has ridden the Darci Brahma mare in both of her Zabeel Classic lead-up runs and finished an unlucky second in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1400m) after she was held up in the straight.
Sinarahma then had no trouble going one better in her return to Te Rapa a fortnight later with an effortless victory in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).
