Annabel Neasham plans to make use of Spirit Ridge’s biggest asset when the veteran stayer lines up for a second shot at the Listed Grafton Cup.
The nine-year-old finished third in the corresponding race last year when he settled midfield from an outside draw, but she is keen to see him assume his customary on-pace role on Thursday.
With four solid runs under his belt, including a last-start effort over 2400-metres, Neasham is banking on a combination of race fitness and Spirit Ridge’s free-bowling pattern making him hard to run down.
“Hopefully from that draw (barrier eight), we’ll just be really positive, do what he does best and just roll along,” Neasham said.
“He’s very deep into a prep now and we’ll probably try to put the sword to them.
“He ran third in this race last year and while he’s not getting any younger, he is going great guns at home. He looks terrific.
“I don’t see any reason why he can’t win again as a rising ten-year-old.”
Despite his age, Spirit Ridge continues to race in great heart.
A Group 3 winner three starts ago, he wasn’t disgraced when stepped up to weight-for-age in the Q22 (2200m), sticking to his guns to finish midfield, and was again sound behind Vow And Declare in the Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) last month.
While he has to contend with 60.5kg, four of the past 10 winners of the 2350m country feature have carried 58.5kg or more, including 2020 victor Sixties Groove who successfully lumped 61kg.
Ryan Maloney has ridden Spirit Ridge in his past two starts and will again be in the saddle at Grafton.
The horse is being kept safe in betting as a $6.50 chance with the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Deny Knowledge a well-supported $2.70 favourite.
