Griffiths to return

Trainer Robbie Griffiths has been given the green light to return to the racetrack following brain surgery.

Two runners will represent the stable at Flemington on Saturday, Halvorsen (Magnus) in the Living Legends Trophy and Igniter (Snitzel) in the Christmas Giving Tree Plate.

"I'm pretty keen to get to headquarters on Saturday," Griffiths said. "The doctors told me steer clear of the races, all the activity and all the multi-tasking.

"I'm still not going to track work every morning. This week I've been Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and I'll go Saturday, but some of the slow days, I just work from home.

"I saw the surgeon on Monday and the neurologist on Tuesday and they're very happy with everything. They said if you get a bit tired that's to be expected, but if you feel like you're ready we can't see why you can't do it (the races) now."

Track, distance key to chances

A bigger track and a step up in distance will favour The Candy Man (Casino Prince) who will back up at Eagle Farm seven days after finishing third at Doomben.

He had problems getting a clear run in the straight when third in the Listed Brisbane H. last Saturday.

Trainer Barry Baldwin had always intended to run The Candy Man again in the Hamilton Hotel H. at Eagle Farm in a bid to get the horse into the field for the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast on January 11.

"The Candy Man wasn't paid up for the Magic Millions series and needs a wild card to get in," Baldwin said. "He will need to win the Shoot Out Quality at Eagle Farm on December 28 to get a Millions start, but it would have meant it was three weeks between runs and going from 1600 to 2200 metres if we don't run on Saturday."

Baldwin has no doubts The Candy Man can run a strong 2400 metres at the Gold Coast.

Eyeing another present

Chris Waller will be chasing his fifth win in Saturday’s Listed Christmas Cup at Randwick with three of the runners in the eight-horse field, last-start ATC Cup winner Alward (Ire) (Aqlaam {GB}) and stablemates High Bridge (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) and Naval Warfare (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}).

"They go in and out of form the older horses. You just have to find ways to keep them happy," Waller said. "We mix up their training and do different work, light gallops, keep them fresh. They do long, slow work as well.

"We basically want a horse jumping out of its skin.

Waller has Alward in top form with consecutive wins in Brisbane and Sydney at his past two starts and High Bridge a close last-start fifth and Naval Warfare is a recent trial winner.

Disregard course stats

Brisbane mare Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) has failed to run a place in three Eagle Farm starts, but trainer Tony Gollan believes that should be overlooked when assessing her chances in the $250,000 The Gateway.

He said Outback Barbie had done well since her last start nose second in the G3 George Moore S. two weeks ago.

"She was one of several very good runs in the George Moore. She is out to 1400 metres and third-up so we would expect her to be in the finish," he said.

"Her first go at Eagle Farm was very good in the Kingsford Smith Cup when she got beaten about two lengths after striking interference and travelling wide," Gollan said. "Then she was ordinary in the Dane Ripper and she was at the end of her campaign in the Tatt's Tiara but still only finished a bit over 2l away.”

Rain relief

The Brisbane Racing Club welcomed rain at Doomben on Thursday morning after it has been forced to buy water after its dams ran dry two weeks ago.

"There was a bit of damage with some fencing and rails being down but that is easily fixed," curator Jim Roberts said.

"As everyone is aware we have been desperate for rain. The actual racetrack has stood up very well to recent racing and this will help even more.

"We actually put some irrigation on it Wednesday night before the storm so it really looks in great order."

Closer to home best

Co-trainer Toby Edmonds believes avoiding a Sydney trip with Group 1 performer Tyzone (Written Tycoon) will make it easier for him earn a wild card to Magic Millions Day.

Edmonds was tempted to take Tyzone to Randwick on Saturday for the Listed Razor Sharp H., but opted to wait for Saturday’s Listed Lough Neagh S. at Eagle Farm.

Edmonds, who co-trains with his son Trent, said Tyzone would need to win The Buffering at Eagle Farm on December 28 to get a run in the Magic Millions Cup on January 11.

"In the end it is easier and better all around to stay home if we are looking at a Millions day start," Edmonds said.

Future uncertain

South Australia's premier jockey Raquel Clark is facing an uncertain riding future after suffering a brain injury in a fall.

Clark continues to recuperate from the injury she suffered when she fell from a horse after the finish line in a race at Morphettville last month.

"They just called it a traumatic brain injury," Clark told RSN 927. "When I fell the left side of the back of my head was the part that got really damaged. They said they were little bleeds to the brain and it all turns into bruising, is what I can gather from it.

"They looked at it and said to me, look a football player has to have three weeks off when they get about three dots of this on their brain, and I had over 30 on my brain. So they were quite quick to tell me that I will be stood down for a long time."

The 26-year-old admits there is a possibility she may not be able to ride again.

More options open

A switch in plans has led Group 1 performer Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) to Saturday's G3 Lawnmaster Eulogy S. at Awapuni to open up options at Ellerslie's Christmas carnival.

Trainers Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson changed tack from their original plan to start Aalaalune in Sunday's Listed Hynds 3YO Salver at Ellerslie after discussions with owners Lou Te Keeti and Val Gates.

"We considered the Ellerslie race but sat down with Val and Lou and we decided that if we went to 2100 metres now, we couldn't really drop back in distance," Graeme Rogerson said.

"By going to the Eulogy, it means we can look at the Ladies Mile and the Royal S. at Ellerslie after Christmas."

New Year’s Day target

Trainer Nigel Tiley couldn’t be happier with talented 3-year-old Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) after his win in the G3 Bonecrusher S. and now unbeaten in four starts.

Tiley has been pleased with Riodini since his win, with his sights firmly set on the G2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day as his next target.

“He hasn’t left an oat since he raced,” Tiley said. “He is bouncing around and has taken no harm at all from the run. We will now head to the Guineas with him as planned.”

Bred and part-owned by Alan Galbraith QC, Riodini is set to continue on a Classic path in New Zealand after his connections have knocked back a number of sizeable offers for the gelding.

“The owners are very keen to race him,” Tiley said. “They have rejected all offers because they are not interested in selling him.”

Scorpz on Derby path

Scorpz (Charm Spirit {Ire}) will be tested over 2000 metres for the first time at Ellerslie on Sunday in preparation for the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby in February.

The Stephen Marsh-trained colt will attempt to make it back-to-back stakes wins when he contests the Listed Hynds 3YO Salver.

“He has taken a little while to click to it all, but his last two runs have been very good, so I am very excited about his chances,” Marsh said.

“He galloped up on Tuesday morning on the course proper and I thought his work was really good.

“Getting him up over ground is the key to him, he’s really going well. He has gone the right way since that last win.”

Milestone beckon s

Veteran jockey Darryl Bradley is looking forward to a gilt-edged opportunity to achieve a career milestone at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The 53-year-old, who these days combines riding with his role as racecourse manager at Foxton, is sitting on 99 career stakes wins.

He heads to Te Rapa for just two rides but both are in feature races, aboard Gorbachev (NZ) (Gorky Park {NZ}) in the G3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup and Guillada (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}) in the G2 Cal Isuzu S., both for Bulls trainer Bryce Newman.

"It would be a huge achievement," Bradley said. "I look at what Jimmy Cassidy has achieved and it pales to his 100 Group 1 wins, but for myself in the context of New Zealand racing, it's really important to me personally. Both horses are good rides. They are going really well and they'll give me every chance."