Champion sire Flying Spur posts 86th stakeswinner

Champion sire Flying Spur added the 86th stakeswinner to his record when 6YO gelding Griffon scored handsomely in this afternoon’s $80,000 BRC Lightning H. 1000m LR for owners Wilf & Rosemary Mula and trainer Robert Heathcote.

Pictured: Griffon wins under a hold in a time of 57.68 seconds for the 1000 metres at Eagle Farm today. (PHOTO: Sportpix)

Bred by Steve & Kristina Young’s Orange Grove Thoroughbreds (also breeder & vendor of Flying Spur’s stakes-winning daughter Gliding) Griffon was originally a $210,000 Bart Cummings purchase from the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. The Mulas were part of the first group of owners who enjoyed Griffon’s early success – he won three of his first four starts in Sydney.

However, he suffered a serious suspensory ligament injury at the end of 2010 and the Mulas bought Griffon outright for $24,000 at the 2011 Inglis Sydney Autumn Thoroughbred Sale. Sent for a long spell, Griffon returned to racing late last year, winning his second start back on 24 December. As his trainer said after that win, “there has never been any doubt that the horse possesses a high level of ability.” Today’s victory is a thoroughly well-deserved reward for his owners’ staunch faith in that ability.

Griffon has now won five of his 14 starts and a tick under $200,000. He is the 8th stakeswinner this season for Flying Spur whose 7% SW/runners strike rate makes him one of the most consistently successful stallions in Australia. He stands in 2012 at a fee of $33,000 inc. GST.