Cup hitout to prime Virginian for big one
The gelding was having his first start in eight months when he made short work of a class field in the Listed Chief De Beers Stakes (1050m) at Doomben on May 20.
“He had two trials before his comeback run including a good hit-out when he won at Deagon,” Edmonds said.
“But I think a run on Saturday will top him off nicely.”
The Virginian has 52kg in the Stradbroke and is No. 18 on the order of entry.
He looks assured of a start in the Stradbroke and Edmonds is hoping jockey Jim Byrne will stick with him.
“Jim put his hand up to ride him after they combined to win the Chief de Beers,” the Gold Coast trainer said.
“He was really impressed with the run.”
Byrne is having a big season in feature races having won six Brisbane stakes races this season including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Redzel.
LOSING one of his favourite horses from the stable is a blow but trainer Ben Currie is turning his attention to the Doomben meeting.
Just three days after Col ‘N’ Lil won Saturday’s Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup, the mare has left Currie after being sold to clients of Edmonds at the National Broodmare Sale.
“Obviously I was sorry to see her go but you just have to get on with things,” Currie said.
Currie has had a great winter with more than 20 winners since the start of April including five winners at Toowoomba, his home track, on May 27.
He has Isn’t She Elegant in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Gully Command in the Group 3 Spear Chief Stakes at Doomben.
“She has won five races and not many three-year-old fillies have done that,” Currie said of Isn’t She Elegant.
“She is suited at Doomben over 2200 metres and she will be up on the pace.”
“I don’t think she will be disgraced.”