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Daily Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Toby Edmonds has sights on second Stradbroke after his ‘Claytons' triumph during Covid pandemic
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Toby Edmonds calls his 2020 win in Queensland's biggest race 'The Claytons Stradbroke' and says it felt 'a bit morbid' scoring his greatest triumph during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Queensland winter carnival that year was almost unrecognisable due to sweeping safety restrictions and Eagle Farm was like a ghost town when Edmonds and his son Trent scored their first Group 1 with Tyzone. Only two Sydney jockeys were riding in the 2020 Stradbroke which was that year slashed from $1.5m to $350,000 in prizemoney. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Fast forward five years and Toby Edmonds, now in training partnership with Stephen McLean, said it will be an entirely different feeling if flying filly and bargain buy Spicy Martini can win Queensland's best race which is now worth $3m. 'It was a bit morbid to be honest when Trent and I won in 2020 and we called it the Claytons Stradbroke because they crunched the prizemoney right down,' Toby Edmonds said. 'We ran second the year before with Tyzone and he won a similar amount that year to what he did for winning in 2020. 'Some people would say there's a little asterisk next to it (the 2020 Stradbroke) but the field was still competitive. 'And it was a Group 1 next to my name which was what I always wanted. 'But there is no doubt that this one on Saturday will be bigger if we win. 'It would be similar to a cricketer like Steve Smith or Ricky Ponting scoring a hundred, to win a big Group 1, it's like the grand final for a trainer like me.' Trent Edmonds is chasing another Stradbroke victory on Saturday with three-year-old filly Spicy Martini. Picture: Trackside Photography • Trainer reveals JJ Atkins contender was 'flying blind' in lead-up Spicy Martini is a daughter of US champion Justify who was purchased by Edmonds for the barely believable price of $8000 as a yearling. The filly who 'walks like a duck' surged into the Stradbroke Handicap field when scoring a golden ticket by winning the Fred Best Classic and gets into the Stradbroke with a featherweight. Gold Coast trainer Edmonds is a student of racing history and has always enthused about the prospect of qualifying a three-year-old filly for the Stradbroke. In total, there have been 12 three-year-old fillies who have won the Stradbroke, including Stefi Magnetica last year. Others in the last 40 years are La Montagna (2006), Private Steer (2003), Dane Ripper (1997) and Canterbury Belle (1985). 'I just like the profile of three-year-old fillies in this race,' Edmonds said. 'Stefi Magnetica won it last year and then you go back and look at the likes of La Montagna and Private Steer. • 'I won't be backing him': Owner questions Stradbroke favourite's odds 'I'm a big student of history, it's there and its pretty simple to look up. 'I have followed form for 30 years and it's always been a passion of mine. 'I have always thought a three-year-old filly in a Stradbroke with no weight, if she is any good, could figure in the finish. 'Whether Spicy Martini is good enough or not, we are not sure, but she is certainly a game filly and I think they will know she is in the race. 'Some people are saying this isn't a vintage Stradbroke, but whether it is or it isn't doesn't matter, they are all difficult to win.' Edmonds will take his customary position at Eagle Farm on Saturday, watching the races by himself and away from others. It's how he likes it, 'so I don't have anyone annoying me while I'm watching a race'. • Grounded Corey flying high ahead of dream Group 1 bid 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 Justify. It was a gamble that has paid off in sensational fashion. 'Anyone could have bought her really, someone might have went to $8500 and we might not have bought her,' Edmonds said. 'But we might have kept going, we actually hadn't seen her but we thought a Justify filly, regardless of what she looked like, was worth a shot at that price. 'We did speak to Coolmore and they shared the information they had on her. 'But it was really a throw at the stumps to be honest.' Spicy Martini has drawn barrier four and is a $31 chance. Originally published as Toby Edmonds has sights on second Stradbroke Handicap after his 'Claytons' triumph during Covid pandemic
News.com.au
04-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
$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. 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. Time to celebrate! That's a spicy win for Spicy Martini in the G3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben 🙌 🌶ï¸� @CWilliamsJockey | @EdmondsRacing | @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2025 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. '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.
