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Miss Keepsake’s Wandjina filly scores first victory.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained Token Spirit (3 c Wandjina - Miss Keepsake by Keeper) made the perfect start to his three-year-old career when getting off the mark at the second time of asking in the Vale Rob Gaylard Maiden Plate (2046m) at Benalla on Tuesday.
Last seen running eighth on debut at Ballarat, the three-year-old son of Wandjina (Snitzel) stayed on well to post a length victory over Takatoka (Reset), while Run The Show (Americain) was another neck away in third.
Token Spirit was purchased by her trainer and Peter Ford for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Gilgai Farm draft in 2019.
The well-bred three-year-old becomes the second winner out of Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Miss Keepsake (Keeper) - who was herself snapped up by Dermot Farrington for $400,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2012.
Miss Keepsake is herself a half-sister to Japan-New Zealand International Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Villifye (O'Reilly).
Miss Keepsake slipped to All Too Hard (Casino Prince) in 2018, before missing to Cable Bay (Invincible Spirit) in 2019 and she has most recently been covered by So You Think (High Chaparral).
The Newgate Stud-based Wandjina's progeny is headed by Group 2 winner and Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) placegetter Mamaragan and he stands for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
