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Hawkesbury Move A Winner For Brandon Griffiths

3 minute read

Hawkesbury apprentice Brandon Griffiths is enjoying a great run since switching from South Australia to NSW.

Griffiths notched his fourth winner in the first two months of the season when successful at last Saturday’s Mudgee meeting on Tiger’s Story for Cessnock trainer Jason Waters.

It was the seventh NSW winner for the 21-year-old, who relocated to Hawkesbury from SA last season to rekindle his riding career.

Griffiths had an interesting experience at the Mudgee meeting in a 1000m barrier trial after the last race.

He took Solo Gypsy to the start for Hawkesbury trainer Wanda Ings – but the gelding refused to jump.

“He did a Chautauqua,” Ings joked. “They even had to get a pony to lead him out of the barrier stalls after the three others horses had jumped away.”

Ings’ daughter and Griffiths’ partner fellow apprentice Chelsea Ings is nearing a return to race riding.

Ings has been sidelined since fracturing the talus bone in her right ankle when dislodged from Kailis Pearl at Port Macquarie on May 18, prematurely ending her most successful season that saw her win 25 races.

“Chelsea has to go back to the specialist and expects to get a clearance to start riding again,” Wanda Ings said.

• Long serving Hawkesbury trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith couldn’t recall the last time he clinched a winning double but hopes it is the start of better fortunes for his stable.

The five-time G1-winning trainer bounced back to form by winning with Chamfer and On Angels Wings ($8.50) on his home track at Hawkesbury on September 27.

“I’ve been through the ringer and tipped out the other side,” Mayfield-Smith said. “But we’ve got 15 horses in work including some young horses, so there is always hope.

“I can’t remember the last time we won two races on the same day. It’s been a long time since we have taken two horses to the races with chances.”

Mayfield-Smith retired his last G1 winner Famous Seamus 15 months ago.

Chamfer is raced by dentists John Cannon and Michael Stergoulis in partnership with Mayfield-Smith’s wife Emma.

“John and Michael have supported us since the 1990s and were in the ownership of Landsighting, who won two Group 1 races for us in the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm and George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill,” Mayfield-Smith said.


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