Griffiths aboard one of his Derby-winning rides, A KING IS BORN. - file
Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths has ridden more Derby winners than any other jockey in the history of local racing. On Saturday, he will be gunning to increase his tally aboard the ante-post favourite, BRUCEONTHELOOSE, in the event's 89th running, at Caymanas Park.
Offering a total purse of $5 million, the prestigious 2400-metre race, the second leg of the Triple Crown series, is being sponsored for the first time by the United Bookmakers Association.
Griffiths, who last won the premier classic aboard the Tyrone Lynch-trained THE BOMBER in 2007, bids for an unprecedented 12th Derby success with BRUCEONTHELOOSE, a classy three-year-old grey colt from the stables of 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, a man who also knows a thing or two about winning the Derby.
Derby victories
Significantly, Griffiths and Feanny have teamed up to win the Derby on eight occasions with PRINCE CONSORT (1986), LIU CHIE POO (1988), THE VICEROY (1989), MILLIGRAM (1992), SIMPLY MAGIC (2002), I'MSATISFIED (2000), A KING IS BORN (2003) and DISTINCTLY NATIVE (2004).
Feanny achieved two more Derby victories without Griffiths riding his mounts - HELLO POOCHIE LIU with Neville Anderson aboard in 1983 and WELLS FARGO under Charles Hussey in 1994.
Given their fantastic record as a team, win number nine could be a mere formality on Saturday. But what makes their relationship so special in the Derby?
"Teamwork, trust and understanding," was how Griffiths described it.
Winningest jockey
"Horses such as THE VICEROY, PRINCE CONSORT, MILLIGRAM, SIMPLY MAGIC, A KING IS BORN and DISTINCTLY IRISH were ahead of the competition as three-year-olds and delivered big as expected on the day.
"But I had to big deep aboard a horse like I'MSATISFIED and, as it turned out, he was another Triple Crown winner for us behind LIU CHIE POO, THE VICEROY, MILLIGRAM and SIMPLY MAGIC," recalls the five-time champion jockey, who has ridden 1,586 winners to be the winningest jockey in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Commenting specifically about the chances of 2000 Guineas hero, BRUCEONTHELOOSE, Griffiths said he has class and ability to deal with the circumstances.
"He's one of the class horses in the race and although we are not sure he will stay, he won his Derby prep impressively in a good time and has worked well since," noted Griffiths.
"I am hoping that everything falls in place and, knowing this horse, he can rise to the occasion."
Now 50 years old, Griffiths, who started riding as an apprentice in 1975, can look back at a long and distinguished career during which he has ridden some truly outstanding horses, including LEGAL LIGHT, ROYAL DAD, THE VICEROY, PRINCE CONSORT and EROS.
The 'gentleman' jockey, who has ridden a record 43 classic winners, is also the recipient of many awards.
Some years ago, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica and is the holder of the coveted None Such Award, for unparalleled achievement as well.
He also holds the National Honour, the Order of Distinction.
In November 1993, Griffiths was the first racing personnel to achieve 1,000 winners, this aboard the Feanny-trained EROS in the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint Championship.