The Griffin Trophy (restricted race, 1400m) is the highlight of the final race meeting of 2014, which will be held Sunday (28 December) at ShaTin with first race scheduled for an early 12:30 pm start. Apart from the 11-race local programme, the Club will also simulcast the G1 Arima Kinen from Nakayama Racecourse, Tokyo, during Sunday’s races.
The Griffin Trophy is restricted to three-year-olds only and Strathmore is expected to be the betting favourite after his narrow victory in smart time over Packing Pins on 23 November. Trained by Tony Millard, Strathmore has won two of his three races to date and will once again have a new jockey on Sunday as Joao Moreira is serving a careless riding suspension. Umberto Rispoli has the ride as Strathmore attempts 1400m for the first time in his brief career.
Line Seeker, trained by Paul O’Sullivan, was an impressive, front-running winner under Zac Purton over 1200m on 23 November and will also try to stretch out over the additional furlong in the Griffin Trophy. Sky Hero is already a course and distance winner when he came from the back to win nicely three weeks ago and will be handled by Douglas Whyte.
The Arima Kinen will be run at 2:25 pm and will be simulcast immediately after the running of the Griffin Trophy, between races four and five.
