CLAIMING apprentice Marc Griffiths, close relative of both the illustrious five-time champion jockey Winston Griffiths and his brother trainer Gary, became the 11th winner in the current crop of 20 claiming apprentices on Wednesday after booting home 5-2 chance The Gummer for trainer Joseph Thomas in the opening race on the 10-race card.

The young Griffiths, who is the lightest rider of his batch tipping the scale at 45.5kg (100 lbs), was aboard his 36th mount for the season since beginning his apprenticeship on September 8.

Griffiths’ winning ride also means that more than half the current batch of apprentices has now won races with Ruja Lahoe and Renardo McNaughton at the top of the standing with 10 wins each.

By virtue of being aboard less rides (58) and finishing second 11 times to McNaughton’s 63 rides and five second placed finishes, Lahoe leads the standings.

Both apprentices started the mid-week meet on nine wins, but rode one win each to raise their tally. McNaughton was aboard the 1-1 money favourite Reds Thomas for trainer Arnold Rambally in the fourth race, while Lahoe piloted First Of All to the filly’s first victory for trainer Errol Pottinger in the eighth.