The Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock stable is hoping a recent victory has given Token Spirit the confidence to score again at Flemington.
Token Spirit lines up in the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) on Saturday, the final of a series of middle distance and staying races for three-year-olds.
Having disappointed Griffiths and de Kock on a number of occasions, Token Spirit finally found his way back into the winner’s enclosure at Sandown on June 16.
Under a brilliant ride from Jamie Kah, who takes the ride again, Token Spirit raced to an easy win.
Griffiths and de Kock then considered backing up Token Spirit at Flemington over 2000m three days later, but elected to wait for Saturday’s final.
“He won really well last start and I think he’ll love the course and distance and run really well again,” de Kock said.
“He had been disappointing because it had taken him so long to win his second race, but he is a nice horse that the stable love.
“He’s handling everything good. He travelled over to Adelaide, he came back fine, so he’s been handling all that good.”
Token Spirit won at his second race start, at Benalla over 2046m, and apart from his last start Sandown win only has one other placing, on the Pakenham synthetic track, to his credit.
But that did not stop Griffiths and de Kock from taking Token Spirit to Adelaide for the Group 1 South Australian Derby where he ran eighth, after being well back to the turn.
De Kock said the stable had been keeping Token Spirit happy in recent weeks as they aim for Saturday’s race with some maintenance work.
And just how far the stable pushes on after Saturday, de Kock is unsure.
“We’ll see what happens on Saturday,” de Kock said.
