It has been nearly 16 years since the hobby trainer last tasted Group 1 success, but he might just have the chaser to break that drought in the daughter of Barcia Bale, himself a Group 1 winner, and Kokoda Spirit.

Rated a 15-1 chance in early markets, Militant Spirit will be hoping to emulate his stunning heat win at Sandown Park on May 16.

A pragmatic Hunt conceded the three-year-old would need some luck from box number three, albeit the odds were similarly stacked against Militant Spirit in her win last week.

"She was probably against the best dog in Australia last week and she (Dyna Patty) had the red box, so I thought I was running for second or third," he said.

"But she blew them away, which is all you can do.

"Dyna Patty is the only bitch to break 29 at Sandown, which she did the start before.

"We'd drawn the car park (box seven) and I thought we'd struggle to get across, but we did and we won.

"She really needs to lead. They gave her no hope last week when she was 15 or 16-1, the same price, so she will need a lot of luck.

"The main thing is we are there and in with a chance."

The Sapphire Crown Final carries prize money of $145,000, including $100,000 for the winner.

Militant Spirit will enter the race in career best form with wins in five of her last seven starts, with the victories achieved on four tracks - Sandown Park, Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton.

Despite plenty of finalists across the years, Hunt achieved his first and only Group 1 success in 2003 with Hall's Northern in the Maturity Classic, the dog he rates as the best to have graced his kennel in 40-odd years of training.

"It's a big achievement to get into a Group 1 and I have been in a few, so I must be lucky, " he said.

"(Pre-race nerves) don't really faze me, that's the way you have to be.

"You need a lot of luck and the pressure will be on her - she's drawn right between the speed, so she is really going to have to hammer out of the box to get to the front.

"Whether she can or not we'll find out."

Militant Spirit is owned by Kangaroo Flat's Adriano Moro, who previously trained the dog.

"This is about my fourth or fifth dog off him and we've won a few races," Hunt said.

"The last two I got off him won about $100,000."

A potential tilt at the Bendigo Cup in July lies ahead for Militant Spirit, depending on how the dog comes through Friday race.

A huge night of greyhound action at Sandown Park will include three Group 1s, including the world's richest staying race, the $250,000 Sandown Cup (715m).

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