Grylls joins 1000-win club

[Wandering Eyes]

Jockey Craig Grylls joined a select group of riders on Saturday when piloting Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) to victory in the last at Hastings.

It brought up Grylls’ 1000^th win in the saddle in New Zealand, joining his father Gary and 35 other jockeys in reaching the milestone.

“I am very happy, it was a great result,” Grylls said.

“I didn’t realise I was that close (to 1000 wins) and all of a sudden it was there.”

Earlier on the card Grylls brought up win 999 aboard the Roger Allen-trained Ruby Rocks (NZ) (Burgundy), and with a handful of quality rides for the remainder of the card, he was hopeful of bringing up the milestone.

“After my first win of the day I thought ‘I mustn’t be too far away, maybe I need two or three more?’ Then I looked and I only needed one more,” he said.

The son of former top jockey Gary Grylls, Craig was always destined for a career in the saddle, and he said he is glad he has pursued the ‘family business’.

“I probably didn’t have much choice I suppose, but it has been a great ride,” he said.

Grylls has also had plenty of international success, with more than 60 victories in his time abroad.

“I had 44 winners in Singapore, and I think I had 15 in Macau and five in Australia,” he said.

While he enjoyed his time overseas, his biggest thrills have come at home, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) aboard Crown Prosecutor and Rocket Spade.

“The two New Zealand Derby winners have definitely been the highlight, but all of them (wins) are good really,” he said.

There was plenty of hype surrounding one of Grylls’ rides in particular on Saturday, La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), and he said she acquitted herself well first-up when finishing third behind Dark Destroyer.

“She went well,” he said. “I was in a pocket and got held up and had to change around. She got through the line really strong and she is going to take a lot of improvement out of it too.

“We thought she would go really well. I was a bit gutted as we didn’t get 100 percent the rub of the green but at the same time it was a massive run, and she has got bigger and better things ahead.

“It’s great to be riding horses of her quality, that is what it is all about when you are racing.”

Grylls was also pleased with the run of the Stephen Marsh-trained Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1400m) where she ran third behind Best Seller.

“She is nice, I really like her,” Grylls said. “I think when you see her on better ground you are going to see a pretty classy filly.”

Grylls also thinks better things are ahead for Fellini (NZ) (Belardo), who ran fourth in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).

“He was good. Turning for home he felt like he was dropping out, but I kept at him and he got through the line alright,” Grylls said.

“I think he is another one that will be better on better ground.”

Previously the retained rider for Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Jo Hickman, Grylls said he enjoyed his time with the Matamata operation but has adjusted well to working for himself once more after the couple reduced their interests in the sport over winter. “I am just back freelancing now,” he said. “I enjoyed my time with Valachi but it’s just back to how things were beforehand now.”

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