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Full Noise by SN
Golden opportunity with quality filly
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 6th, 2026 12:32 pm
Craig Grylls will continue his successful association with Single Red in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Champion 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.
“Off a freshen up, I had to work a bit to cross them. She switched off once she got there and put them away pretty convincingly,” Grylls said.
“The step up in trip from the mile the other day, when she was very good, to 1800m on Saturday should be ideal for her.”
All going well, she will run two weeks later in The Roses (Gr.2, 2000m) and then the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 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 Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2100m) and was given a break following her third placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Her form took on further lustre when the winner of both of those events Ohope Wins came out and added the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) to her record.
Single Red was bred and raced by Ben Kwok who has remained in the ownership after OTI bought into the filly following her initial success.
She is a half-sister to the Gr.3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) winner Russian Alliance with their dam the English-bred High Chaparral mare Sea Dweller.
Grylls won last season’s New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership with 141 winners and ahead of today’s meeting at Ellerslie, held a 43-win buffer on closest rival Samantha Collett in his title defence.
“It’s been unbelievable again, week in and week out I’ve been getting on really good horses and been able to get the job done,” he said.
“It’s been another whirlwind season, riding plenty of winners so I can’t grumble at all.”
