Robbie Griffiths says Enxuto is one of many horses in the mix for a tilt at the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Despite not being a winner beyond three-year-old open grade, the son of Lean Mean Machine will be given his chance to sneak into the Doncaster field in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Ajax Stakes offers the winner ballot-free exemption for the Doncaster, for which Enxuto is currently 77th in the order of entry with 50kg.
Four horses have done the Ajax/Doncaster double, the latest being It’s Somewhat who defeated Happy Clapper in the 2017 Doncaster Mile.
With a myriad of attrition to come from that order, Robbie Griffiths, whose sole Group 1 win came 10 years ago with The Quarterback in the 2016 Newmarket Handicap, said the five-year-old would be given his shot to qualify.
“I’d prefer to take Enxuto to the Ajax Stakes in Sydney, and that gives him two weeks into the Doncaster,” Griffiths said on Saturday.
“He’s in the mix. He’s one of many in the mix, but he ran fourth in the Ingham up there and his form around Sabaj, I hope runs really well because that’ll really help frank the form lines.”
Frank the form lines Sabaj did, running a career best fourth in the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) hours later.
Enxuto has placed in both runs back from a spell, third to Cafe Millenium and Sabaj in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) before chasing home Birdman in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) second up.
With only two weeks between runs on that occasion, Griffiths believes Enxuto is hitting his straps for the Ajax, for which he will carry the minimum weight of 54kg.
“He worked really well Saturday morning,” Griffiths said.
“I thought it’s hard to run really good two weeks off a blistering first up run, so I reckon his run will be better coming into this.”
Enxuto has been $11 into $8.50 in Saturday’s all-in market headed by Lord Penman at $2.60 and Group 1 winner Globe at $3.50.
