Griffiths has the bases covered at Sandown

Robbie Griffiths
Robbie Griffiths has a strong hand heading into Wednesday’s midweek at Sandown.

Robbie Griffiths has the starting positions covered for a three-year-old fillies sprint at Sandown.

The Griffiths stable has Cherief’s Choice (barrier 4), Chateau Griffo (8) and Zarpoya (12) in Wednesday’s Polytrack Handicap (1000m), a race the trainer sees as an even contest.

“I’m hoping all three fillies are in the mix there somewhere for us,” Griffiths said.

“Whoever has the luck on the day could be the one.”

Griffiths said Cherief’s Choice was best suited by the draw and had the pace to take advantage of it while Chateau Griffo will wear blinkers for the first time.

“Chateau Griffo got too far out of her ground at Caulfield but blinkers first time might help her, so if they do that could change the game a fair bit,” he said.

“Cherief’s Choice can use her pace and hopefully ride the speed or be in the box seat.”

Of the trio, Zarpoya comes into the race with winning form.

Griffiths held high hopes for the filly early in her career when she contested a Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield, finishing sixth behind Catchy, but pulled up shin sore.

“She came back and had a bad prep where everything went wrong for some reason or other,” Griffiths said.

“But she’s came back this time and everything’s worked well and she’s won a couple of times.

“It was a low grade race at Werribee last time and she’s drawn poorly here, but there’s only one corner to get around so with a bit of luck it won’t stand in her way.”

Nathan Punch, who is apprenticed to Griffiths, will take 3kg from Zarpoya’s 56kg.

He has ridden the filly in her five starts this campaign for wins at Pakenham and Werribee.

Punch has previously ridden in town on 10 occasions but has yet to score a metropolitan win .

“He’s doing really well in the bush, having ridden around 70 winners and he’s down to 1.5 (kilograms) so he’ll start having a bit more of a look in town,” Griffiths said.

“If he handles it all well and he continues to keep riding the way he’s riding, it won’t be long before he gets more of a chance at these meetings.”

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