Robbie Griffiths
Robbie has made the transition from being a successful jockey to one of Victoria’s leading and best known trainers.
Born into the Thoroughbred Racing Industry, Robbie completed a successful apprenticeship as a jockey riding in excess of 250 winners on both metropolitan and country tracks. Robbie’s success came early in his riding career culminating in his outriding his apprentice claim in his first 2 years as a jockey.
The transition to training commenced when he became foreman for Caulfield trainer and close friend, Tony Vasil (another Ggees trainer who currently trains Booboisie by Stratum) and during the next 2 years he continued to study various training methods including time spent in Ireland with leading European trainer Kevin Prendagast.
Since obtaining a Trainers Licence in 1991 Robbie has enhanced his reputation as an innovative and successful trainer by achieving success in Group and Listed races. Considerable metropolitan success has been achieved with Dandy Kid, who holds the Moonee Valley record for most flat wins at that racecourse, Danzylum, Cocinero, Happy Glen, Spring Theme, Bright Side, Tarn Princess, Confederate Kid, Costalette, Suraya, Corinthian Arch, Lady Josephine and others.
He regards his biggest thrill as a trainer was winning the Group 2 Saab Quality with Big Pat on Derby Day in 2003, then saddling up the horse to finish 10th in the Emirates Melbourne Cup three days later. Robbie is a perfectionist by nature, and leaves no stone unturned to get the best out of each and every one of his horses. He has concentrated largely on purchasing quality young horses for his stable and has the confidence, resources and the right team to ensure ongoing success.
It is not surprising Robbie is a sought after trainer for many race horse enthusiasts.
“I believe that being able to offer individual horses’ flexibility, along with our state of the art facilities at our Cranbourne Training Complex, gives our horses a great advantage where performance at a horse’s highest level is achieved.” – Robbie Griffiths, Trainer
Please visit Griffiths Website for more information: www.griffithsracing.com.au
Tony Vasil - Trainer
Tony Vasil was raised by his mother Brenda in the shadows of the Caulfield racetrack. Tony's father John was killed in a hurdle race fall at the old Bacchus Marsh racetrack in 1959, a few months before Tony was born.
The young Tony Vasil had the family passion for racing. He was rarely far from the racetrack, either sneaking under the fence to watch the races , or selling the Herald outside the track after the last race for pocket (punting) money.
Tony got his first job with legendary trainer Angus Armanasco at Caulfield at age 13, before becoming an apprentice jockey to Doug Rebecca at the age of 15.
He rode 200 winners for more than 3500 rides before weight forced him out of the saddle. Tony says he decided to teach himself to train watching others at the Caulfield training centre. He took up a licence in 1991.
Tony believes employing the semi-retired legendary trainer Bob Hotsted as an assistant in 1995 and 1996 was a turning point in his career. "Bob had a tremendous knowledge of racing and training and he taught me a lot in that time" Tony said.
Tony Vasil began his training while continuing to ride trackwork and he has retained the habit. In 2000 Marstic gave him his first Group 1 when he won the Goodwood Handicap at Morphetville but it was the accquisition of a Danehill - Circles of Gold colt from breeder frank tagg in 2002 that changed Tony's life.
That colt turned out to be Elvstroem who after a lowly maiden win at Swan Hill as a late 2YO went on to win the 2003 AAMI Victorian Derby, the 2004 Caulfield Cup and took Tony overseas for a 2005 campaign that resulted in an historic win in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Freeat Nad Al Sheba.
Tony made light of his success with Elvstroem claiming to the media after the Caulfield Cup win - "I'm just a mug with a good horse"
It was during his time with Elvstroem in 2003 that Tony accepted an offer to join Aquanita Racing as a training partner. The move freed up his administration and allowed him to concentrate more on his horses at his Caulfield base.
Tony trains from a 24 box complex at Caulfield. In 2007 Tony trained Haradasun to win the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at randwick and the Group 1 George Ryder stakes (1500m) at rosehill.
Haradasun was sold to Coolmore Stud and transferred to Aidan O'Brien in Ireland. He won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
MAJOR WINS (Gr 1)
Elvstroem - Caulfield Cup, Victoria Derby, Dubai Duty Free, Orr Stakes, Underwood Stakes Haradasun- Doncaster Handicap, George Ryder Stakes Super Elegant - Doomben 10,000, Goodwood Handicap Irish Darling - Australasian Oaks Marstic - Goodwood Handicap
STABLE STARS
Lucky Secret, Zazzman, Bird of Fire, Toast of the Coast, Under the Bridge, Valdemoro, Carrara, Lucky Unicorn, Creative Plan, General Booth, How Good is He, Causeway Queen,
David Hayes - Trainer
David Hayes took over the trainer role at Lindsay Park at the start of the new racing season in August 1990. His first runner as a trainer was also a winner, So Surprising at Gawler.
Under David’s control Lindsay Park moved into another period of dominance in Australian Racing. In the five years David trained in Australia he won every trainers premiership in Adelaide and Victoria.
In 1996 David was accepted to train in the competitive but lucrative market of Hong Kong. His first runner there, Esteemed, was also a winner.
While in Hong Kong David won the trainers premiership twice and finished in the top four in every year he trained there. His tally of stakes money won in Hong Kong was over AUD 100 million.
While in Hong Kong David won the trainers premiership twice and finished in the top four in every year he trained there. His tally of stakes money won in Hong Kong was over AUD 100 million.
Upon returning to Australia in August 2005, the David Hayes trained Plans won at Moonee Valley as his first starter. The stable's success has continued with back to back Group 1 wins with Barely A Moment in the Dubai Racing Club Cup and the Toorak Handicap, bringing David's personal tally of Group 1 wins to 33.
David Hayes - Profile Born: South Australia Age: 42 Began training: 1990 Won Premierships: Melbourne 5 times, Adelaide 5 times, Hong Kong 2 times Career statistics to date (Australia only) Group One wins: 32
Highlights
First Australasian trainer to lead in 300 winners in a season when he set a then-Commonwealth record of 306 wins in 1991-92.
Established a world record of six Group winners at one meeting at Flemington on Derby Day, 1990. His major wins that day including the Group One Mackinnon Stakes (Better Loosen Up) and Group One Salinger Stakes (Planet Ruler)
MAJOR WINS (Gr 1)
1994 Melbourne Cup:Jeune 1990 Cox Plate: Better Loosen Up 1993 Caulfield Cup: Fraar 1994 Victoria Derby: Blevic 1991 Australian Cup:Better Loosen Up 1993 Newmarket Handicap:Primacy 1994 Caulfield Guineas: St Covet 1991 Blue Diamond Stakes: Canonise 1995 Blue Diamond Stakes: Principality 1993 Sydney Cup: Azzaam 1994 The Metropolitan: Glastonbury 1994 Rosehill Guineas: Star Of Maple
SINCE RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA IN AUGUST 2005
Gr 1 WINS 1995 Dubai Racing Trophy Barely A Moment
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL WINS (Gr 1) 1990 Japan Cup: Better Loosen Up 1999 Hong Kong International Sprint: All Thrills Too 2003 Hong Kong Derby: Elegant Fashion
HONG KONG CAREER (1996 – 2005) WINNERS 458 PRIZEMONEY HK$438,269,137 PREMIER TRAINER IN HONG KONG 1997/1998 & 1998 1999
GROUP ONE WINS IN HONG KONG TOTAL (7) The Stewards Cup (twice) The Hong Kong Classic Mile The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy The Chairman’s Sprint Prize The Hong Kong Sprint The Hong Kong Derby
Lindsay Park Racing Stable ( all years) Lindsay Park Racing Stable has won 42 Adelaide Premierships and 23 Melbourne Premierships.
