Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds is chasing Group 2 glory on his home track with Spicy Martini
Eight years after achieving one of his greatest wins in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, trainer Toby Edmonds has another golden opportunity for more glory at his home track with exciting three-year-old filly Spicy Martini.
Veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd, at age 55 and in his first ride in the rich juvenile feature, steered then filly Houtzen to a $1.2 million payday for Edmonds and connections in the 2YO Classic in 2017.
Now Edmonds, in partnership with co-trainer Stephen McLean, is eyeing the $200,000 Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on Saturday and then hopefully her grand final, the $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips section, where James and our team of professional punters provide their daily best bets.
Spicy Martini, which has won three of her four races, can stake her claims as a Stradbroke contender on Saturday but with a rating of 83, she will need to win the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 to score a ticket into Queensland's most prestigious race.
'That's always been our goal (the Stradbroke) but we'll take it race by race,' said Edmonds, who won the 2020 Stradbroke with Tyzone.
'Even if she gets beaten on the weekend we'll monitor the run, get the form done and see if it's worthwhile heading that way or we don't.
'I think she'd be well weighted in a Stradbroke.'
Edmonds is heartened by the fact that a three-year-old filly could make such a powerful impact in the Stradbroke given what Bjorn Baker's mare Stefi Magnetica pulled off last year when she beat Bella Nipotina and Vilana in a nail-biter at $16 odds.
'If you look at Stefi Magnetica's form from last year, she was only placed in a Group 1 (Surround Stakes) and got a start,' he said.
'This filly has won two stakes races now and she's got enough prizemoney so hopefully everything maps out OK.
'Whatever she picks up on the way through is a bonus.'
Kyle Wilson-Taylor retains the ride on Spicy Martini after they combined to win two Listed races - the Mode Plate (1200m) at Doomben in late November and the Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) on a soft track at Eagle Farm on April 26.
Spicy Martini is a $7 chance to jag the Gold Coast Guineas from barrier one, behind favourite Emirate ($4.40), Wanaruah ($5), Zoubaby and Editing (both $6).
She thrives with the sting out of the ground which should help on Saturday given the unpredictable Gold Coast track is likely to be rated a Soft 7.
Edmonds paid just $8000 for Spicy Martini, out of Justify (USA), in an online sale and the filly has already racked up $341,000 in prizemoney.
'She's got a couple of good attributes. She has a good pedigree firstly,' Edmonds said.
'Secondly she's a good gate horse. She can be up on the speed or we can ride her quietly.
'She's got a lot of different attributes and she's versatile. If there's too much speed we can come back off and if there's no speed we can take it up and control it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Telegraph
29 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Gosford, Ballina previews: Golden Smile seeks redemption
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Imported mare Golden Smile faced a stiff challenge when she stepped up to city company last start but trainer Kris Lees looks to have found an ideal race back in provincial company Golden Smile placed in her first three starts this campaign before breaking through with a big all-the-way win in a Newcastle Maiden on a Heavy 10 over 1890m before stepping up to a Benchmark 64 on the Kensington 11 days later when fifth to Rotagilla over 1800m. 'She was very good in winning but the wet track may have aided her,' said Lees. 'It was a big jump going to town last start and coming back a little in distance could have been detrimental to her. 'Going up to 2100 metres this week looks a nice option for her. 'She is still going to get a winter track this week and she seems to be in good order.' The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! The daughter of Sea The Stars drops back to a Class 1 and Maiden Plate and steps up to 2100m. 'This looks a nice race for her. A bit of a gap between runs may suit her as well being a European-bred mare,' he said. Lightly-raced three-year-old Hawker Hall kicked off his campaign with a three-and-a-half length win over 900m on his home track on April 23 and wasn't seen on raceday again until May 26 when fifth to Prima Bella on a Heavy 10 over the same track and distance. He steps up to 1100m this week in the Class 1 Handicap with Jason Collett back on board. 'We wanted to find the right track and run him at home again,' Lees said. 'The other day, it might have just been a bit too heavy for him. 'He's a big, heavy horse and he does like a bit of cut in the ground but not really testing like it was. 'It was just a bit waterlogged that track and made a bit of hard work for him. 'He might be better suited now getting out over just a little bit further to get a more controlled run (in front).' Lees has been pleased with the form of Surreal I Am in Queensland this preparation where he has won two of his three starts and feels he deserves a chance back in New South Wales. The gelding lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) where he will make his presence felt. 'His two wins on the Sunshine Coast were on the polytrack but that said, I can't fault him at home,' he said. 'He will be a place chance.' Joining him in that race is Oakfield Mamselle who is resuming from a spell. While she has a win and a second from three first-up runs, Lees feels she will be improved by this run. 'She seems to be coming up well. Her trials were only fair but her work since has been pleasing,' he said. Lees' other runner for the meeting is Enchanted World in the opening race, the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1100m). The daughter of Ardrossan debuted on her home track on May 26 where she settled last and came between runners in the straight to finish a three-and-a-quarter length second behind Pratt. 'She was okay on debut and will appreciate stepping up a little in trip,' said Lees. Lees also has Denuto and Irish Thunder running at Ballina and feels they will be competitive in their respective assignments. 'Denuto hasn't been far away and is close to getting a result. Hopefully he can break through,' he said. 'Irish Thunder ran well first-up. He just got hampered a little. 'He has improved from that and should run well.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The week started well for trainer Scott Henley when stable star Volcanic Love trialled stylishly at Grafton and he hopes it can end on a high note with a winning double. Henley was pleased when the meeting originally set for Lismore was moved to Ballina when his promising filly Confederate Lady races so well. The three-year-old had her first three starts at the track where she recorded an impressive maiden win over 1012m at just her second career start and placed in her other two runs at the venue. 'I'm definitely not disappointed they moved the meeting to Ballina. She loves the joint,' said Henley. Since resuming with a close third in a Class 1 on a Heavy 10 at Ballina on April 8, Confederate Lady has finished third behind the promising Seymour Stars at Port Macquarie and an unlucky fourth to Takemine at Inverell. 'She was just a gallop short going into that run because we'd had plenty of rain up here and couldn't get her tied right down. 'Then she ran into a good horse at Port Macquarie. 'Last start she got back further than we expected and was a bit stiff. The daughter of Supido is out to add to her record when she steps out in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) where she has drawn barrier 15 although she will come in after scratchings. 'I had her in a couple of Class 1 races that were washed out and the only available race at the next meeting has been a Benchmark 58,' he said. 'Each time in those Class 1s, to my way of thinking, she was a good thing. 'In the (benchmark) 58s, we go from a good thing to just a chance. 'From a wide gate this week, she is just a good chance with luck in running.' Henley has been pleased with the two runs of former Victorian three-year-old Zouandme and gives him a good chance in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m). The gelding raced on a hot speed when seventh at Grafton first-up before being beaten just over a length when sixth at Inverell. 'He has those two runs,' he said. 'He was big in condition first-up and had a good blow after the race. 'He improved a fair bit off that going into the race at Inverell and has come on nicely since then. 'The only reservation I have is the very heavy track.'
Sydney Morning Herald
37 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Will DCE Drop be a Masterstroke or Mistake? Six Tackles with Gus
Gus weighs in on the State of Origin captaincy debate and the shock decision to omit Daly Cherry-Evans from the Queensland squad. He also shares his strong views on the Dolphins' fearless approach to the competition, and offers a passionate warning to buckle up for the Warriors' rise.
West Australian
40 minutes ago
- West Australian
Australia to bat first in WTC final after losing toss
Marnus Labuschagne will get an immediate taste of life as an opener after South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first in the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Going for back-to-back WTC titles, Australia enter the decider as hot favourites after crushing the Proteas the last time the teams met back in 2022-23. Labuschagne, who was once described as having "opening-itis", won the battle to be Usman Khawaja's fifth opening partner in 18 months over teenager Sam Konstas. Josh Hazlewood returns to partner fellow star quicks Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in his first Test since December. Cummins described Australia's preparation as "unreal". All the guys in the team are ready to go," he said. "Everyone's come together and we have had about 10 days of preparation. "I don't think there's any extra pressure. We've been here before and won it." South Africa, who won seven-straight Tests to qualify for the final, are attempting to break a title drought in ICC tournaments dating back to 1998. "The more finals you play in, you obviously improve your chances of winning. It doesn't weigh heavy on us," South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said. "It's unfair to burden this group with anything that's gone before. "We know we want to and we need to win another ICC event, but whatever tags come along, we don't wear that." AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
