Race to hog heaven
TOBY Edmonds and Kris Lees may be more comfortable swinging a saddle on to a horse than climbing into one on a Harley-Davidson but that won’t stop them taking satisfaction if they can claim the prize in the Bat Out Of Hell on the Gold Coast today.
The Harley-Davidson will be presented to the trainer of the Bat Out Of Hell winner and the prize, in its first year, is already one of the soughtafter trophies of the Queensland winter carnival, even if the winner will be a fish out of water on the back of it.
“I had a crack at it when I was young and I got thrown to the kerb, so I’m not a bike rider unfortunately,” said Gold Coast trainer Edmonds, who trains Prompt Return.
“But I think this is a good promotion. Anything positive is good for racing.
“I think (Gold Coast Turf Club chief executive) Steve Lines is doing a pretty good job. He’s getting a lot of stuff done.”
Prompt Return, winner of the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) last year, has drawn gate three and should be given every chance from there by jockey Jeff Lloyd.
Edmonds said everything pointed to a big first-up showing today.
“He trialled beautifully and he’s working great,” he said. “We’ve set him for this for some time.
“He won it last year so it’s always been in the back of our mind. Hopefully we’ve got him ready to go.”
Bookmaker Ladbrokes has Prompt Return listed as a $7 chance to make it two in a row today.
Newcastle-based Lees is most fancied to take home the Harley, having the $2.10 favourite Guard Of Honour.
Like Edmonds, Lees doesn’t rate himself as a biker.
“I’m flat out staying on a bicycle,” he said.
“The way Mel (Eggleston), my Gold Coast man, is starting to look I reckon he might look like one of those blokes out of (1978 Clint Eastwood film) Every Which Way But Loose.
“I might leave it up there for him to ride around on.”
Lees admits Guard Of Honour has been a frustrating horse, a lot of times because “he doesn’t overcome adversity very well”.
“You just have to leave him alone and leave it late and let him rattle off a late sectional,” Lees said.
Guard Of Honour ran 55.84 seconds to win by 5½ lengths over 1000m at Canberra two starts back before finishing second to Ringo’s A Rockstar over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on April 14.
“His Canberra win was devastating. He smashed the track record and bolted in,” Lee said.
“He didn’t race to that level at the Sunshine Coast but he was still good. He just needs everything to set up right to produce his best.”
HE TRIALLED BEAUTIFULLY AND HE’S WORKING GREAT. WE’VE SET HIM FOR THIS FOR SOME TIME.
TOBY EDMONDS