Popular 12-year-old Duke Of Firenze battles to heartwarming win for Griffiths

Veteran sprinter Duke Of Firenze was hailed "a legend" by trainer David Griffiths after he recorded his 11th win on his 103rd start.

The 12-year-old won the Dash at Epsom when trained by Sir Michael Stoute in 2013 and has been with Griffiths since the spring of 2016.

Fourth to Battaash in the 2017 Prix de l'Abbaye, he previously achieved a peak rating of 109 and, although now operating at a lower level, he is still performing with enthusiasm and showed that in abundance when winning the 5f handicap under Graham Lee.

"He's a legend," his trainer said.

"It's great for the owners and the yard, at the age of 12 to be winning is brilliant. I'm delighted, chuffed to bits."

Take Cover (red and blue, centre) overcomes traffic problems to winCredit: Pool

Griffiths won three Group races with former stable star Take Cover from 2014 to 2017 and, like for many, the last 12 months have been challenging.

Whether it is managing a relatively small stable at a time when owners are unable to visit the racecourse or homeschooling his two children Kierra and William, the coronavirus pandemic has been tough.

"Hopefully we can get owners back and they can enjoy what they're paying for," he added. "If you can survive it, it's going to be brilliant, but there's going to be a lot who can't."

Stable morale has been boosted by Duke Of Firenze and fellow Dash winner Ornate, who also struck at Southwell last month, in recent weeks and the South Yorkshire-based trainer is optimistic about the future.

He said: "We're fortunate to have some nice horses to go to war with on the all-weather and on grass. We were lucky to have Take Cover and be winning Group 2s and be placed in Group 1s, it's just trying to find the next one!"

Murphy in mighty form

0111211. Those are the form figures posted by trainer Mike Murphy in the last fortnight, two of which came on this card. Aria Rose completed a hat-trick in the selling handicap and Owhatanight justified short odds in the finale.

The trainer is in scorching form and all of his runners on the all-weather must be given serious consideration in the coming days.

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