By Tony Megahey Country feature race specialist Mack Griffith, and prolific regional jockey Greg Ryan is the combination to follow at Saturday’s Narromine TAB meeting. Ryan’s decision to forego strong prospects of winning successive Royal Randwick TAB Highway events with hot prospect Larlabrook, for a typically full book at Narromine, is the strongest possible push. Mudgee’s Griffith, a TAB Highway winner with Pera Pera in 2015 and the Bathurst Leg of the Country Championships with Binalong Road, has engaged Ryan for comeback sprinter Murranji in the Bourchier’s Macquarie Valley Fuels Dandy Cup (1200m). They also combine with former Mitch Newman maiden filly Oscar Award in the Golden West Holden Maiden (1300m). “Murranji had more than a year off with injury, he was originally with the Northam stable, but he’s come back well enough, and he’s back in a suitable race after harder grade at Gosford and Scone,” Griffith explained. “He’s fitter third- up, and we’re happy with him.” Murranji, a winner of three races from 18 starts in an interrupted career, also was competitive last year in a Randwick TAB Highway and the Scone Cup. The now six-year-old gelding carries 58.5 kilos and is well drawn in barrier seven for Ryan. The long- time Gooree Park pre- trainer has three–year-old filly Oscar Award well placed in a moderate maiden. “We’re trying to win a race for Gooree with her before she goes to stud. “But she’s a nice enough filly, fitter third run back and off a couple of trials.” Early career Newcastle and Goulburn placings for the Newman stable have the filly suitably placed back in a country maiden with 54.5 kilos ’s and a good draw. Ryan has strong prospects with the Northam’s Philadora in the second event, Raise A Drop for the Parson’s stable in race four and Kingtante for Garry Lunn in the fifth event. And between commitments, Ryan will be hoping to watch Larlabrook for his young mate Clint Lundholm in the Royal Randwick TAB Highway.
