NZ jockey Grylls out to make most of Bracelet booking

Champion New Zealand jockey Craig Grylls will take time out from domestic duties to continue his successful association with Single Red this weekend.

The 36-year-old has ridden the filly in two of her three wins and jumped at the chance to partner the Andrew Forsman-trained three-year-old in her Australian debut in Saturday’s Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).

“I’m pretty lucky to be given the opportunity by Andrew and OTI Racing, they could have easily put on a local jockey, so I’m really stoked and appreciative,” Grylls said.

The daughter of Vanbrugh confirmed her trip to Queensland with a last start victory at Te Rapa where she accounted for her age group rivals with authority.

All going well, she will run two weeks later in The Roses (Group 2, 2000m) and then the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) a fortnight after, but at this stage Grylls is only booked for the Bracelet ride.

“I’ll just take it step by step and see what the connections want to do,” he said.

Single Red has made impressive progress this year and following a debut fourth, she strung together consecutive wins at Te Rapa and Waverley.

The filly then bridged the gap to black-type company when runner-up in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2100m) and was given a break following her third placing in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).