Smart trial win has Whypeeo primed
STAKES-WINNING Gold Coast three-year-old Whypeeo has a strong trial win under his belt as he prepares to head a team from the Toby Edmonds stable at the Doomben meeting.
Whypeeo will be having his first start for the Queensland winter carnival in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1050m) tomorrow.
He hasn’t raced since leading for home from a wide barrier before finishing fourth to Pierata in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas
(1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13. Edmonds has long believed Whypeeo is a stakes-class horse and the gelding confirmed that by winning the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Doomben in December.
The trainer was pleased with Whypeeo’s trial win at
the Gold Coast on April 10 when he beat handy sprinter Jobiwood by 4½ lengths.
“There is always a difference between trials and races but it was a handy effort,” Edmonds said.
“He needs to run Saturday and then head to the Gold Coast Guineas (on May 5).”
Edmonds will decide after the Guineas if he will keep Whypeeo in three-year-old company or head to races against older horses.
Stablemate filly Sizzling Ace is also due to make her return tomorrow in the Two-Year-Old Handicap (1050m).
She failed to win in three runs in the summer but showed potential. Edmonds thought enough of her to start her first-up in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben in which she ran fourth before her sixth in the Group 3 McLachlan Stakes.
At her last start she was second to Pennino at the Sunshine Coast in a $100,000 race which was in effect a consolation for horses who didn’t make the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Sizzling Ace trialled solidly when third at Doomben last week.
“She drew bad barriers in all three of her starts but she needs to start winning if we are talking about anything better” Edmonds said.
Tough gelding Mr Epic steps up in class in the Listed Tails Stakes (1600m) but Edmonds expects him to improve.