Brain surgery for Robbie Griffiths

Popular Victorian trainer Robbie Griffiths will undergo surgery on a brain aneurysm, which will keep him away from the track for at least six weeks.

The president of the Australian Trainers' Association, Griffiths was admitted to hospital on Friday to prepare for surgery on Saturday morning. He will then need six weeks away from his stable to recuperate.

In a message to his owners on Thursday, Griffiths said he had been undergoing a few health issues in recent times, which led to the discovery of the brain aneurysm.

Griffiths said it would be business as usual at his Cranbourne stable despite his absence.

"I've got great staff around me, a great team, they're fantastic," he said.

"They've been in this situation before, back in 2012, when I had an infection and was laid up in hospital and during that time they had a truckload of winners without me. We've got great systems in place with great people."

Last season Griffiths trained 86 winners to finish fourth on the Victorian trainers' premiership, while he was announced the Cranbourne Trainer of the Year at the track's recent awards night.

Griffiths has one runner at Caulfield on Saturday, Collectable (Sebring) in the Black Caviar Tribute H.

Brooklyn Hustle scratched

Talented filly Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) has been scratched from Saturday’s G3 BECK Probuild Quezette S. at Caulfield.

A last-start fifth in the G1 Blue Diamond, the Rosemont Stud runner has always been held in high regard and was the early favourite for the fillies’ feature. But trainer Jason Warren tweeted that connections were favouring a cautious approach this week.

“Brooklyn Hustle will not run Saturday,” he said. “Trainer and Rosemont Stud taking the prudent approach after pre-race scope wasn't 100%. A long spring and plenty of alternate opportunities ahead.”

The scratching leaves Quezette S. favouritism with Blue Diamond winner Lyre (Lonhro).

No gallop for Verry Elleegant

Dual Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will miss a raceday gallop because of a slight foot issue, but trainer Chris Waller says it will not affect her preparation.

The winner of the Vinery Stud S. and Australian Oaks in the autumn, Verry Elleegant was scheduled to gallop at Randwick on Saturday alongside stablemates Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).

But Waller said the mare had a little tenderness in a foot after pulling a shoe off during Thursday morning trackwork.

He said she would gallop at Rosehill on Tuesday morning and line up in Saturday week's G1 Winx S. as scheduled.

Begood Toya Mother on Group 1 path

Daniel Bowman believes Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has improved as he begins a preparation the trainer hopes can result in big-race success in the spring.

Begood Toya Mother resumes from a let-up in Saturday's Listed Regal Roller S. at Caulfield, an important race for the gelding because Bowman is targeting the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. third-up next month.

Saturday's race is Begood Toya Mother's first stakes test and an opportunity for him to boost his rating and stamp his Rupert Clarke credentials.

Winner of six of his 10 starts, Begood Toya Mother rose through the grades with five straight wins last campaign, culminating in a five-length victory in a 1440m Benchmark 88 at Caulfield on June 1.

"We're not there mucking around on Saturday,” Bowman said. “We've got him forward enough with that little break to be running well, because we know we still need to get our rating up.

"He was winning by big margins carrying big weights last time, so he's probably not going to know himself with 54 kilos."

Eastender a surprise package

Former Tasmanian Eastender (Tickets) is poised to begin a campaign aimed at the G1 Metropolitan H., and nobody is more surprised than Denise Martin.

The boss of syndication company Star Thoroughbreds, Martin has enjoyed decades of success at the highest level, but admits she has a soft spot for the horse who has defied his humble beginnings and his pedigree.

When she bought Eastender as a yearling, Martin thought he would sprint and identified him as a potential candidate for the Tasmanian two-year-old Magic Millions.

"Other than the fact he was a good-looking yearling, his pedigree almost didn't warrant looking at him twice, but because he was such a nice horse as a baby, I just wanted to buy him and take a chance," Martin said.

"When I looked at him six months after the sale, I thought he probably wasn't my best purchase ever.

"In his early three-year-old year he showed no ability at all over short-course racing and I thought, well I suppose he hasn't cost me a great deal of money, $22,000, so in the next few months if he doesn't step up and show some ability we'll offer him to some friends as a lovely riding horse."

But last season Eastender blossomed, making a clean sweep of Tasmania's four biggest cups races – the Devonport, Summer, Launceston and Hobart Cups, earning a trip to the mainland.

At Saturday’s Kensington meeting, he will make his first start from Chris Waller’s Rosehill stable.

"He's only just maturing now as a 6-year-old, so we have high hopes he can measure up here in Sydney and Victoria in some good races," Martin said.

Eastender's ownership group is from all over Australia, and half of them plan to be trackside for his Sydney debut. All of them have pencilled in a trip to Randwick for the Metropolitan H. meeting on October 5, a race they never dared dream their little Tasmanian horse might reach.

"It would be amazing if he won a Group 1, the horse I was going to give away as a riding horse," Martin said.

Another Group winner for Charm Spirit

The progeny of young Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Charm Spirit (Ire) have continued their fine form with 3-year-old Kick On (GB) defeating older horses in the G3 Tattersalls Sovereign S. in England.

From the stable of champion Newmarket trainer John Gosden, Kick On scored a determined victory over the G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}).

"From where I was standing I wasn't sure if he had won, but thankfully he stuck his neck out,” assistant trainer Thady Gosden said.

“He was three wide the whole way and tried his heart out, and considering the second horse is a Royal Ascot Group 1 winner, it was pretty stiff competition."

Kick On has now won on four occasions including two at stakes level.

Charm Spirit has also made an excellent start to his stud career in the southern hemisphere with seven individual winners from his first crop, which have just turned 3.

These include last Saturday's impressive Flemington winner Heirborn (NZ), who holds a nomination for the Caulfield Guineas.

His best southern hemisphere performer to date is last season’s leading two-year-old filly Aretha (NZ), who won the Gr2 Matamata Breeders’ S. and was twice Group 1-placed. She is being aimed at the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Fitness edge for Rogerson runners

Debbie Rogerson is trusting race fitness to give (Our) Malambo (NZ) (Duelled) and Comeback (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) their edge as they prepare to face the stars of Saturday's G2 U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.

The Hamilton trainer is happy with both of Team Rogerson's runners for the weight-for-age sprint, which has attracted five Group 1 winners.

"They are hard fit and a lot of horses in that race are having their first run back on a track that will be wet and that will suit both of ours,” said Rogerson, who trains in partnership with her husband Graeme and his granddaughter Bailey.

The Te Rapa track was rated Slow on Friday, but rain was forecast for Saturday. Rogerson was confident that wouldn't have a negative impact on Malambo, who won at Te Rapa in similar conditions a fortnight ago, beating Comeback and another race rival, Southern Icon (Big Brown {USA}).

"Malambo has come out of the race really well, I'm more than happy with her," Rogerson said.

"It's a very good field, but she's drawn well (in barrier four) and I'm expecting a bold run. I'd be over the moon if she could run in the first four.”

Performances on Saturday will help determine the next step for Malambo and Comeback. The latter is nominated for the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on August 31, but Malambo will be kept to shorter trips.

"I'll just keep her to sprinting,” Rogerson said. “Comeback hasn't got his coat yet, but he's coming right and he's ticking along nicely for bigger things down the track. He is very forward.”