A supercharged finishing burst paved the way for smart colt Griffin Lodge’s dashing victory in the 1730m Channel 7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven by Gary Hall Jnr, Griffin Lodge, a $4.90 chance, raced in last position in the field of six before he thundered home to beat Seven No Trumps by five lengths at a 1.56.2 rate.
He was still last and starting a three-wide move approaching the 400m mark when the leader Linebacker broke into a gallop, leaving the breeze horse Bushwacked in front. Then, in the twinkling of an eye Griffin Lodge, out three wide, burst past Bushwacked and raced away.
Olivieri was delighted with the colt’s splendid performance and he said that Hall had said Griffin Lodge would have won even if Linebacker had not galloped.
Griffin Lodge, an easy winner at Pinjarra on debut at his previous start, will be set for the Pearl Classic at the end of May. He is by Fly Like An Eagle and is the first foal out of the unraced Grinfromeartoear mare Bignightout, who showed plenty of promise before breaking down with tendon problems.
Griffin Lodge’s great granddam Nolas Nuisance produced seven winners, including Rich And Spoilt, who had 42 starts for 20 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $301,630.
Olivieri said that part-owner and breeder Rod Pye had always wanted to name a pacer after Griffin, a legendary mythological creature with a body, tail and back legs of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Griffin Lodge certainly has the potential to fly like an eagle.
By Ken Casellas