$8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
The Stradbroke Handicap has its latest rags to riches fairytale … and she walks like a duck.
Three-year-old filly Spicy Martini, who was snapped up for a barely believable price of just $8000 as a yearling by Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds, surged into Queensland's most prestigious race by scoring the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Wednesday.
Spicy Martini went through an online sale and was sold at a bargain-basement rate because of concerns over her X-rays, despite being a daughter of US champion Justify.
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But Toby Edmonds backed his judgement and secured the filly for a fraction of Justify's $250,000 yearling sales average at the time.
Spicy Martini now has a shot at the $1.8m first prize of the Group 1 Stradbroke at Eagle Farm on Saturday week, with her win in the Fred Best earning her a golden ticket into Queensland's most prestigious race.
Edmonds has won the Stradbroke before, snaring his first Group 1 when Tyzone claimed the 2020 edition although that was a vastly different race with Covid restrictions playing their part.
Toby Edmonds trained the 2020 Stradbroke winner with his son Trent but now Toby and new training partner Stephen McLean have a shot at claiming Queensland racing's biggest prize.
Spicy Martini's Stradbroke odds were slashed from $101 to $21 after her Fred Best win and the filly will carry the featherweight of just 49.5kg.
Spicy Martini will need a new jockey with Craig Williams unable to make 49.5kg but that was the least of Edmonds' worries on Wednesday as he was overcome with emotion.
'If you have a look at her, she walks like a duck,' Edmonds said.
'She has quite a few issues and takes a lot of managing, but she is very quick.
'We found her online, a Justify filly, which we generally weren't able to buy because they were too dear, but this one just came up.
'This one was one that (breeding giants) Coolmore couldn't put through the sales.
'She is workmanlike, there's nothing flash about her at all.
'She is honest, she is in the Stradbroke now with 49.5 (kg) and I'm very keen to run her as long as she pulls up well.'
The Fred Best for three-year-olds was rescheduled from last Saturday when an Eagle Farm downpour and poor visibility caused several races to be called off.
Champion jockey Williams said the rescheduling of the race added to the stature of the win.
He predicted Spicy Martini would make her presence felt in the Stradbroke.
Craig Williams with trainer Toby Edmonds after the win of Spicy Martini. Picture: Trackside Photography
'Everyone that was in this race today had the challenge of being there last Saturday but coming back today,' Williams said.
'It's a great intuitive by Racing Queensland to have this race exempt from ballot from the Stradbroke.
'Toby and his team now have 10 days to get this filly to the Stradbroke in good form.
'Toby asked if I could ride at 49.5 (kg), I said I could have when I was 18 but I can't now.'
There had been strong late money for Spicy Martini in the Fred Best, backed from $15 into $10.
Bosustow, who won the Gold Coast Guineas by six lengths at his previous start, finished a disappointing sixth after appearing to have every chance.
Annabel and Rob Archibald's Queensland stable foreman Todd Pollard said there were no post-race issues found with the colt.
Bosustow eased from $9 to $21 in Stradbroke betting and now connections must decide whether to tackle the Stradbroke.
Exciting Lindsay Park galloper War Machine firmed even further as Stradbroke top pick on Wednesday without even racing, now a $3 favourite after starting the day at $4.
Originally published as $8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
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