Grice breed helps Griffins Syndicate to a century of wins
1st November 2021
By Jonny Turner
Brilliant success with the stock of breeders Keith and Bevan Grice led to the Griffins Syndicate notching its 100th win as owners with Our Pinocchio (Bacardi Lindy-Jo Anne-Sundon) at Ascot Park last week. The Grice bred and Phil Williamson trained trotter not only helped his owners hit triple figures, he handed driver Kaleb Bublitz his first career victory.
The Keith & Bevan Grice-bred Our Pinnochio scores at Ascot Park for the Griffins Syndicate
Just a matter of minutes later on a quickfire Ascot Park programme, the Grice and Williamson combination was at it again when Our Pinocchio’s half-brother Jimmy Carter (The Pres-Jo Anne-Sundon) produced a brilliant victory after only tacking onto the field at the 600m after being slow away.
The ability of the Grice brothers to produce a quality trotter has been one of the driving forces behind the success of the Griffins Syndicate. The group – which has raced horses under the Griffins, Griffins #2, Griffins #3, BPL and Seafield Trotting syndicates – also started their run of success at Ascot Park with their first winner in 2011, also bred by the Grices and trained by Phil Williamson.
Including Our Pinocchio’s victory, the group’s tally of wins with Grice-bred stock is 58. They include Sarah Palin (10), Father Christmas (17) the Dominion and Rowe Cup placegetter Monty Python (15) and brilliant but injury plagued Dark Horse (14). Each of them are consecutive foals from the Grice’s broodmare gem Juliana.
The current breeding season should set the Griffins syndicate up for plenty more success with Juliana’s descendants. The retired Dark Horse has recently been served by Majestic Son and the group have an agreement with the Grices to race the resulting foal. They are in the same situation with Sarah Palin, who is due to foal to Majestic Son this month, with the foal to be raced with the trotter’s trainer Margo Nyhan. Juliana will also be served by Majestic Son this spring with the group to also race the resulting foal.
The Griffins syndicates, managed by Mark Noonan with Greg Crawford the group’s accountant, have plenty to look forward to while their foals develop with their star trotter Majestic Man set for New Zealand Cup week.
A return trip to Australia, where the six-year-old won three Group One races last season, for the Interdominions is also a possibility for the six-year-old depending on travel arrangements.
Griffins Syndicate wins:
Majestic Man 18
Monty Python 15
Sol Invictus 7
Sarah Palin 6
Rugged Cross 3
Lord Roydon 2
Westerly Wind 2
Mega Pixels 1
Rugged Peak 1
Shutterup 1
Griffins #2 Syndicate
Daiquiri 4
Griffins #3 Syndicate
Our Pinocchio 1
Seafield Trotting Syndicate
Father Christmas 17
Dark Horse 14
Cuddly Jess 5
Arc De Triomphe 1
Bet Pray Lodge Syndicate
Bet Pray Love 2
Photo credit: Monica Toretto
