March 2019

Racing has been Robbie Griffiths’ life and passion for more than 20 years. After weight issues forced the successful apprentice jockey out of the saddle, the desire to reach the top echelons of the training ranks was strong. After earning his trainers licence in 1991, Robbie’s hard work, determination and talented horsemanship has seen him in the Top 10 in the Victorian Trainers’ Premiership on numerous occasions. As well as the fantastic facilities at their Cranbourne Training Complex base, Victoria’s Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold schemes have been a key factor in Robbie’s rise to the top. Robbie tailors his...

Having proven himself as a more than capable galloper on the track, Wyndholm Park sire Rebel Raider continues to do a fine job proving himself once again, this time as a more than capable stallion. Initially retired to Carin Park in 2011 before moving to Wyndholm the following year, Rebel Raider is an exceptionally versatile stallion, producing both speed and staying power in his crops. From his first crop at Wyndholm, he had an impressive 76% win or place strike rate (13 from 17 runners), including 2 stakes winners Waging War and Pretty Punk and Group 1 Queensland Derby runner...

Twelve months ago, Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, and the Victorian breeding industry as a whole, lost a promising young stallion in Unencumbered. The son of Victorian sire Testa Rossa died from post-surgical complications after surgery for chondritis, a progressive inflammatory condition of the throat. Prior to his death, breeders had been supportive of the 2014 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner, with the sire covering over 500 mares in his first four seasons at stud. Three Bridges Proprietor Peter Liston, said at the time that while it was sad for all at their Eddington farm, there was optimism his progeny could do...

Last year’s announcement of The Showdown attracted a record 60 stallion nominations to the VOBIS Sires program for 2017 from 18 individual Victorian stud farms. Amongst those nominations, Godolphin has shown their support of the initiative by nominating all their Victorian-based Darley stallions. Of the 842 nominations for the inaugural Showdown at Caulfield on 27 April, Darley Northwood sires Brazen Beau, Street Boss, Reset and Kuroshio collectively sired 126 of these. Forty seven of these alone are Brazen Beau progeny, with six sitting in the Top 25 of race ballot order (as at 19/2/19). Darley’s General Manager in Victoria, Andy...