Episode 258: Robbie Griffiths

Great to catch up with one of Victoria’s best liked horsemen. Robbie begins by revealing that he’s just getting over some long overdue shoulder surgery. He recalls having met South African training wizard Mike De Kock at a Melbourne horse sale. He says he was surprised when Mike asked him to show his son Matthew around the state of the art Cranbourne training centre. Robbie explains his reasons for creating the first training partnership between an Aussie and a South African. The talented horseman speaks openly about the health scare he endured last year when it was discovered he had a dangerous brain aneurysm. Robbie pays tribute to his brother Rodney a former champion Melbourne jockey. He looks back on his apprenticeship to Bob Scarlett and the thrill of his first win. He rode two more winners over the next two days. Rob also remembers his first outright city winner. The trainer reminisces about his early days at the defunct Epsom training precinct, and pays tribute to two of its legendary trainers. Robbie remembers a few significant winners from his riding days and looks back on the horrors of wasting. He talks about a valuable stint as stable foreman and work rider for up and coming trainer Tony Vasil, before setting up in his own right at Cranbourne. You can hear the admiration in Robbie’s voice as he pays tribute to the special horses who’ve shaped his training career. He gives us an insight into his role as Federal President and Victorian Branch President of the Australian Trainers Association. He’s happy to put something back into the game that’s been so good to him.