In-form Roman Fizz looking for more success at Sale for Griffiths
ROBBIE Griffiths will head to Sale this Sunday with five horses engaged across the nine-event card, with the Cranbourne-based trainer rating the ultra-consistent Roman Fizz as his best chance.
The five-year-old gelding comes into race seven, the $60,000 Sale Quality (1200m), in terrific form, having won or placed in five of his six starts since resuming from a spell.
The son of Magnus and Lemon Soda looks a leading contender in the race, currently rated the $4.60 second favourite behind Colin Little’s Devils Pinch.
Griffiths told HorseBetting.com.au he is expecting a competitive performance from the bay when he lines up from barrier two.
“It’s a pretty tricky event, the Sale Quality – there are a few nice horses which come into the race in good form, but in saying that, he is racing well at the moment too,” Griffiths said.
“Rock’N’Gold is probably the horse to beat and he comes up against his little sparring partner in Devils Pinch, so it should be a really good race.
“There are probably four or five winning chances in the race, but he is going terrific, he is racing really well and just doing everything right.
“When horses are in good form they tend to hold it so hopefully he goes well.”
Roman Fizz will carry the minimum 54-kilograms in the event, the same weight which is set to be carried by Rock’N’Gold and Devils Pinch.
“He drops to the minimum weight but a lot of the horses in the field do as well – realistically his real weight in this field should probably be around the 52 kilograms.”
Griffiths said he is happy with the barrier draw heading into the feature, with his main concern being the weather forecast ahead of Sunday’s meeting.
“Barrier two is fine – he has won out of barriers two and three at Moonee Valley and he raced well out of barrier one at Flemington which can be a hard task.
“The biggest worry is if the rain comes as scheduled – it may play a bit of havoc on the race.
“He can definitely handle the sting out of the ground, but if it is a wet track it is probably going to have a negative effect for him.”
A former jockey, Griffiths rode for immortals of the sport such as Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes and Lee Freedman before embarking on a training career in 1991.
Griffiths currently has a quality stable, highlighted by Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback. The six-year-old will resume his career after a spell in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 18, with the ultimate goal being back-to-back wins in the Newmarket.
All going well, The Quarterback could potentially be heading to Dubai this prep, with a tilt at the Al Quoz on Dubai World Cup night a realistic goal for team Griffiths.