Grylls at front-running best on Conor O’Ceirin

Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
7 December 2024

The Robbie Patterson and Craig Grylls combination were to the fore again at Trentham on Saturday when Grylls produced a masterclass in the judgement of pace as he piloted Conor O’Ceirin to a fresh-up victory in the Totara Lodge Handicap (1400m).

The Patterson-prepared eight-year-old hadn’t been seen since some disappointing performances during the Riccarton Winter Carnival in August, but after a good break he stripped fit for his first-up assignment after performing well at a New Plymouth jumpout.

In a race that appeared to lack a genuine pacemaker Grylls took the initiative and sent Conor O’Ceirin straight to the head of affairs and dictated the speed throughout from eventual placegetters Duncan’s Creek and Liffey.

Entering the home straight Grylls kicked hard on his mount and they shot away before maintaining a solid gallop to the line, stopping the clock in 1.23.19 for the 1400m journey.

Patterson admitted he thought his charge would put in a good showing after his jumpout performance.

“The horse jumped out the other day and had Ladies Man on his back and he couldn’t get past him, so I was pretty confident he would go a good race,” Patterson said.

“Gryllsy dictated it and that it is why he is one of the best.

“This puts a spanner in the works as we were thinking about going to the Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) but I will freshen him up again and there are plenty of good races here coming up for him.”

Grylls admitted he had had an easy time of it in front despite the horse racing a little keenly after Paterson had forgotten to make an important gear change before the race.

“Robbie said to me before the race that he had put the blinkers on for his last couple of runs and had forgotten to take them off for this one,” he said.

“He was a little bit keen early with hem on but I got a nice breather across the top.

“He travelled well into the straight and at the 150m I gave him a bit of a kick and a roar and he has really kicked away.”

Raced by breeder Wayne Keenan under the Keenan Family Trust banner, Conor O’Ceirin is out of the Victory Dance mare Plaything who won four races and produced handy galloper Big Iron (General Iron in HK) who won twice in New Zealand before being sold to Hong Kong where he won on a further four occasions.

Conor O’Ceirin has now won eight of his 39 starts and more than $204,000 in prizemoney.