Blue blood import Dajraan to make debut for trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock at Caulfield

Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock were happy to take up the challenge of getting an impeccably-bred Tulloch Lodge cast-off back to winning form, starting at Caulfield test.

Beautifully-bred import Dajraan will make his debut for Cranbourne trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Cranbourne trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock are happy to persevere in a space Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott vacated with a Group 3-winning import.

Griffiths and de Kock have taken over the training of the impeccably-bred Dajraan after the stallion lost form earlier this season.

Dajraan is a son of the unbeaten UK champion Frankel out of Mossfun, the winner of the 2014 Golden Slipper for trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes.

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The now six-year-old started his career in England before joining the Waterhouse and Bott camp in 2022.

Dajraan won the Group 3 Festival Stakes in Sydney in November 2022 but Waterhouse and Bott decided to move on the veteran of 20 starts.

Leading international trainer Mike de Kock maintained his part-ownership of Dajraan, which led to his son Mathew and training partner Griffiths with the task of getting the horse back to winning form.

“They were, when Gai and her team had enough of him, lost their patience with him, they (Mike de Kock and partners) wanted to stay in him so they’ve taken over the ownership,” Mathew de Kock said.

Trainers Robbie Griffiths (left) and Mathew de Kock (right) have worked to unlock the key to talented import Dajraan ahead of Saturday’s Caulfield meeting. Picture: Getty Images

De Kock said he and Griffiths had made full use of the varied facilities at Cranbourne in a bid to help Dajraan regain the spark that led him to become a Group 3 winner.

“Getting him match fit and tried a few different training methods, because obviously what was happening before wasn’t really unlocking him, so we tried something different and hopefully it works,” de Kock said.

“Our facilities are very different to a metro set up and treadmill, big on the treadmill training, I guess the proof will be in the pudding Saturday.”

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TAB rated Dajraan as a $51 chance to win the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1400m) on debut for the stable at Caulfield.

However, Dajraan’s work combined with the perfect barrier three and the booking of top jockey Damian Lane, boosted de Kock’s confidence in a prominent first-up performance.

“He’s a horse with a different form card going to the races I’d be very confident because he works very, very well at home, it’s going to be interesting to see what he does,” de Kock said.

“I’d be very disappointed if he ran a bad race because then I’d leave the racecourse scratching my head a little bit.

“I’d probably have to say to the owners we have to geld him because he’s not trying very hard (race day) compared to home.”

Originally published as Blue blood import Dajraan to make debut for trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock at Caulfield