Bob May

IT’S not every day that you get the opportunity to lead in a winner on your birthday, but Ashlee Griffiths achieved just that at Gawler greyhounds last Friday.
Griffiths has recently moved with her mother, Bec Romyn, from Moe in Victoria’s Gippsland region, to set up their kennels at Two Wells.
Romyn is responsible for the training, and Ashlee handled their two runners engaged at the meeting, For The Thrill and Tarra Rocket.
For The Thrill was a starter in the third race, a grade six over 400m from box-seven, which was led at the start by Rhynstone Blake out of box-one.
Heading into the back turn, For The Thrill hit the front but was unable to establish a clear break over Rhynstone Blake and Bazza’s Babe (box-two).
Heading into the home straight, For The Thrill was able to pull away, winning by nearly two lengths over Rhynstone Blake for Bec McAuley-Fry and Bazza’s Babe for Jayde Hurley.
Owned in Victoria by Ned McDonald, For The Thrill has a great record of three wins and three placings from just six starts.
Griffiths said she considers that over time, the black dog should be capable of running the 500m journey.
Romyn‘s other runner, Tarra Rocket, wasn’t quite as successful  in a grade six 531m event, running second to Simple Man, trained by Bosko Stamenkovic.
Griffiths explained that her mother decided to make the move to SA, which has opened up opportunities for the pair.
They are finding the racing scene to be more relaxed here which they enjoy, and they particularly like the ‘G Six’ concept of six dogs in a field, and the follow on lure in operation at Gawler.
The family has a large kennel with an equal number of pups, older pups at the pre-training stage and racing stock.
In a real family affair, Griffiths’ younger brother Jakob is proving to be a big help around the kennels, allowing Ashlee to take the next step herself by recently applying for her own training licence.
Racing at Gawler is every Friday and Tuesday afternoon.
Due to COVID-19 measures, bookings will be required, and can be made on 8522 2935.