.Sunday Advocate, March 3, 1996

A new Hall and Griffith

Rambrino gives Sean biggest win to-date

IN THE 60'S there was a fearsome combination in cricket called Hall and Griffith.
Yesterday at the Garrison Savannah, a new Hall and Griffith combination was forged -- this time in horse racing -- which according to one of the parties could be just as fearsome and lethal as the "pace like fire" fastbowling duo that drove terror into the hearts of many batsmen at all levels of cricket three decades ago.
This is the view of Sean Hall, a direct descendant of one of the fast bowlers, and the trainer of Rambrino, a winner of yesterday's Cockspur Cup which was run off in front of close to 20,000 fans.
Speaking to the Press minutes after the race, an elated Hall said that he was extremely happy to win and that a Griffith was jockey who shared the honour with him. "My first win as a trainer came with a Griffith, (Ricky) in the saddle. My first classic win came with another Griffith, this time Chris in the saddle. It is only fitting that my biggest win to-date, which came today with the winning of the Cockspur Cup, a Griffith is again at the helm."
He went on to say: "It seems to me that another Hall and Griffith combination is born, which will give lots of trouble in the horse racing business.".
About the race itself and what winning in a high quality field could do for his career as a trainer, Hall said: "My biggest hope was that the victory would now give some of the local race horse owners confidence in my ability as a trainer.". "I have been training horses for just over three years and in spite of my success before this big one, I have been unable to get many local owners to trust me with their horses" he continued.

Non-Barbadians.

He went on: "About 90 per cent of the horses I presently train are owned by non-Barbadians who live overseas. It is my ambition to get more local horses in my stable and hopefully this result will help me accomplish this. "About the race itself, Sean, a former jockey and a young man at just 29 years old, said that he was always positive Rambrino would do well and win the race.
"He had two starts before today's (yesterday) big race and I seen enough of him to know that he had what it takes to pull it off " Sean added: " What people don't know is that when Rambrino arrived in Barbados from Florida he was a little more than skin and bones. A lot of hard work went into this horse and it has paid off handsomely."
Asked if he was even a little surprised, Hall stated: I always felt good. Even after Rambrino had a shin problem and was forced to rest for the week leading into the Cockspur Cup I still had faith in his ability. He ran nine furlongs in the Cave Shepherd 5000 and then I worked him out with 1/2 mile and five furlong sessions. After the shin injury he was just in the sea for the week leading up to the Cockspur Cup and as it worked out this is just what he needed." Hall explained that owner, Robert Sangster, was currently in Australia attending another horse race, and that he ( Robert ) would be thrilled when contacted later and told of the huge victory.
For himself, Hall said that the success was almost addictive: "Getting here and winning now at the relatively young age of 29, just has me eager to get back here in winners' circle as soon as possible." "Hopefully I have plenty more years as a trainer and will be able to re-live today's great success of winning the Cockspur Cup before I call it a day. At least that will be my aim."

Jockey confident of win at 1/2 mile stage

"By the time I hit the 1/2 mile stage I knew I had the race in the bag."
These were the confident words of an elated Chris Griffith, jockey of 1996 version of the Cockspur Gold Cup winner, Rambrino, shortly after the 15th edition of the popular horse race was completed at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
After having to force himself away from throngs of adoring fans, Griffith told the local Press that he felt great and on top of the world even though he recognized that the full feeling and realization of his accomplishment hadn't fully sink in.
Griffith hails from a long line of jockeys, with his father Geoffrey Griffith, being one of the old greats at the Garrison. He also became the second Griffith to win the prestigious race, following in the footsteps of his brother, Ricky, who took pride of first place back in 1984 on Tinkers Image.
Asked if his heritage had any impact on his performance, Chris replied: "Sure it did. I was inspired by my brother's win and wanted to emulate his magnificent feat of 12 years ago."
Asked if he was riding under any particular set of instructions, Chris said: "No, I was given a free hand by the trainer, Sean Hall, who trusted my ability. I was very positive from the outset and in the end I think I rode a very good race. Every jockey needs a bit of luck and today I had a bit of luck which brought me through."
Griffith is thought to be considerably under-rated in Barbados racing, although he is highly thought of in Canada where he has had tremendous success over the past two years, being champion jockey at one of tracks over there for 1995. Despite this he still sees yesterday's triumph as his biggest race ever: " The Cockspur Cup is the biggest race in Barbados, indeed the entire Eastern Caribbean. I see the race as my Kentucky Derby and bigger than any I have won in Canada. Today is the biggest win of my career."

Geoffrey Griffith on Dancing Tara