Edmonds sure he’s made good Choice for Dittman
TOBY Edmonds is confident his dream run with Segenhoe Stud can continue with Lesley’s Choice at Doomben today as the Gold Coast trainer bids to give apprentice Luke Dittman’s career a kick along in the process.
Edmonds has had a golden run with NSW-based Segenhoe ever since they started sending horses north to his stable in August, 2013 and the partnership almost hit the jackpot when Sagaronne ran second in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) in June.
Lesley’s Choice (62.82s) broke Todonic’s 1100m track record at Ipswich set in 1982 when she scored by six lengths first up on May 27 and Edmonds is confident she can go on with the job today.
“We have dodged a few wet tracks and bad barriers with her and she has finally drawn a good barrier and she is in pretty well (today),” Edmonds said.
“I know she is (45 days between runs) but she is pretty fit and I think she is better fresh anyway and she seems to have come back better this prep.”
Local apprentice Dittman is hoping to graduate to the city ranks next season and a win aboard Lesley’s Choice today would help his cause.
But while his boss could give him a timely metro winner today, Edmonds could also dent Dittman’s hopes of winning the Gold Coast jockeys’ premiership in the process.
Dittman is one ahead of Chris Whiteley in the Gold Coast premiership but Whiteley has several rides for Edmonds at the Coast today.
Meanwhile, Edmonds is making a premiership charge of his own with genuine chances Platinum Gray engaged in race two, Fiery Heights in race three, Malpara in race four and Tribal Art and Our Songbird in race seven at the Coast today.
Edmonds, who finished second to John Morrisey in the local premiership race last season, is four wins behind current leaders Bryan Guy and Gillian Heinrich in the Gold Coast trainers’ premiership but confirmed he will have several runners at each of the final three meetings on the Coast this season.
Edmonds pinpointed Tribal Art as his best chance on the Gold Coast card today but he could well leave with a double or treble.
“Tribal Art’s run was huge in a Class 3 at Rockhampton last start and he is a big strong horse that can certainly gallop,” he said.
“Platinum Gray has been disappointing in two runs back but they have been on wet tracks and we expect him to go well from the good barrier, while Malpara gets the blinkers on and was a little unlucky at Rockhampton last start.
“Our Songbird probably won’t run and we were going to turn Fiery Heights out after last weekend but this twoyear-old maiden was there for him and we think he might have got bogged down on the inside the other day at the Sunshine Coast.”