Craig Grylls is enjoying his best season yet in the saddle and is keen on improving his place on the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership at Te Rapa on Saturday.
With 82 wins to his name this term, including 10 at stakes level, the Waikato hoop currently sits third on the premiership.
While runaway leader Danielle Johnson is firmly out of his sights with 146 wins to her name, second-placed Samantha Collett is within touching distance, just two wins ahead of Grylls.
He is keen to breach that gap this weekend and he believes he has a couple of chances at Te Rapa, including the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Treasure State in the Skycity Hamilton 1200.
Grylls rode the gelding on debut at Counties where wet conditions played against the two-year-old, but he did show his best work late to run on for fourth.
“It was pretty wet at Counties that day, I think we’re going to cop a better track tomorrow,” he said. “I think he will learn a bit from that run, I’m quite happy to stick with him.
“He’s a really lovely type of a horse, he’s well put together. I think he will be a very nice animal in the long term.”
Grylls has been enjoying his riding and that has shown in his results, with the highlight being victory aboard Rocket Spade in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March for Wexford Stables.
“They’ve been big supporters of my career,” he said. “I’ve ridden a lot of winners for them. It was great to win the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) for them, a great way to repay their loyalty.”
