Racing: Grylls pays for holiday

Waikato jockey Craig Grylls. Photo / Chris Loufte

Waikato jockey Craig Grylls made the most of his chances on Saturday before the start of a lengthy suspension when he produced a fine display aboard Nothing Trivial to win the Thames Cup.

The 24-year-old showed poise and patience to claim the event on the eve of beginning a ban for causing interference in the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

He rode the winner, Saavoya, but pleaded guilty to causing the interference that resulted in De Kensington Oval and Ezra coming to grief. He has been suspended from January 4 to the end of the month and also fined $1000.

Grylls gave Nothing Trivial a cosy run three back on the fence and when the field fanned across the track on straightening he brought the 5-year-old between runners with a well-timed finish to beat It's Got To Be You and Keepher Close.

"He travelled well on the fence and the gap came just when I needed it and it was great," Grylls said.

Nothing Trivial had finished runner-up in the Counties Cup four runs back and was also seventh in the Waikato Gold Cup before filling a similar position in a Rating 85 event at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Grylls completed a clean sweep of the main events aboard pick-up ride Elusive Gold in the Pak N' Save Sprint.

With original rider Rory Hutchings stood down with a foot injury, Grylls proved a grand substitute and tracked the leader Onlyarose to the bend. When she rolled off the fence he drove the gelding through for a decisive victory.

-NZ Racing Desk