Toowoomba trainer Ritchie Stephenson can still hear the words of Queensland Hall Of Fame trainer Jim Griffiths ringing in his ears."Let them come to you son and don't go to them," the former premier Queensland trainer told Stephenson about taking horses interstate.Griffiths, who died in the late 1990s and was inducted into the Hall Of Fame five years ago, had few peers in a stellar training career.Among many feature race triumphs for Griffiths were Group One wins with Cachondeo in the 1970 Brisb

Toowoomba trainer Ritchie Stephenson can still hear the words of Queensland Hall Of Fame trainer Jim Griffiths ringing in his ears.

"Let them come to you son and don't go to them," the former premier Queensland trainer told Stephenson about taking horses interstate.

Griffiths, who died in the late 1990s and was inducted into the Hall Of Fame five years ago, had few peers in a stellar training career.

Among many feature race triumphs for Griffiths were Group One wins with Cachondeo in the 1970 Brisbane Cup and Knee High in the 1972 Doomben Cup.

During the 1975 Brisbane winter carnival he won three times at the elite level, in the Stradbroke Handicap and Doomben 10,000 with Spedito as well as another Doomben Cup with Golden Khan.

Stephenson is tossing up whether to send Azzaland to either Sydney or Melbourne during the autumn or keep the four-year-old at home for the Brisbane winter carnival.

Azzaland will line up for just his 12th start in Saturday's Waipara Hills Wines Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm and Stephenson is confident he can take his record to nine wins.

"He's got a bad barrier again with 10 but he won from the outside gate in 13 the day he won at Doomben last month," Stephenson said.

"He'll be hard to beat again but he's got a bit of weight this time with 57.5 kilos.

"I've got him nominated for the Newmarket in Melbourne but I can still hear those words from old Jim Griffiths.

"I haven't had a proper look at what might be available for him in Sydney but there's plenty of suitable races here on his home turf during the winter."

Azzaland blotted his copybook for the first time in three starts this campaign when runner-up to Langfibian in the Bat Out Of Hell Quality (900m) at the Gold Coast on January 3.

"The track was heavy that day and he didn't handle it," Stephenson said.

"But in another bound he still would have won.

"He was slipping everywhere and nearly hit the turf a couple of times in the run and he only got so close because he's such a good horse."

Azzaland has been unplaced only twice in his career in May and June last year but it was later discovered he had a bone chip which was removed from his near-hind leg by keyhole surgery.

"He's in perfect condition now and I couldn't be more pleased with the way he is progressing," Stephenson said.

Stephenson made a bold statement more than 12 months ago that he rated Azzaland as potentially the best horse he's trained.

Stephenson has little doubt Azzaland can win up to 1200 metres and beyond despite failing in his only two attempts over the distance to Woody 'N' Buzz on Doomben 10,000 day last year and Albert The Fat at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap day.

"I don't think he'll have any trouble winning at 1200 metres," he said.

"I might look at the Sydney carnival and consider slipping him down there but deep down I'd prefer to stay at home for the winter."