Trent Edmonds says his three-year-old Alpine Edge “deserves” to take his place in this Saturday’s Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) in Melbourne.
The Gold Coast-based colt kicked off his career with two black-type wins, taking out the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes on debut and then backing up in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes, before being run down late in the Gold Coast 2YO Magic Millions Classic by Shaquero.
The son of Better Than Ready resumed with a terrific win at Eagle Farm on July 31 over 1200m before once again being caught late, this time by in-form three-year-old Startantes, on August 28.
Edmonds has spaced Alpine Edge’s runs fairly evenly throughout his career to date, but the horse will have had just three weeks between races when he lines up in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude in his first trip to Melbourne.
“He arrived in Sydney (last Wednesday night), he’s going to stay there for a week, he’ll have a couple of gallops the reverse direction (anti-clockwise), or at least a gallop in the Melbourne direction leading in, and then travel down midweek next week,” Edmonds told HorseBetting.com.au.
“That’s just the situation which we’re all faced with right now – if you want to try travel interstate, you’ve got to rely on your mates.
“The great thing about this industry at the moment, with the whole border situation and whatnot, everyone’s sort of banded together and helping each other out with horses and interstate travel.
“The Snowdens, Peter and Paul, are helping us out to no end, so can’t thank them enough.”
While Edmonds does admit that this is Alpine Edge’s toughest test to date, he believes his Group 3 winner deserves his chance at the top level, with Saturday’s run set to give the stable a good idea on where he is at ahead of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
“We’re under no illusions that the Caulfield Guineas Prelude is going to be very tough, but I think he deserves to have a crack,” he said.
“He can’t win the race sitting at home in his box in Queensland.”
Alpine Edge is likely to have just the two races in Melbourne – the Guineas Prelude and the Caulfield Guineas – with this Saturday’s run to determine whether he pushes on to the main event or instead heads home to prep for the Queensland Summer Carnival, where his top priority will be the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“We’ll know a bit more about him after next weekend,” Edmonds said.
“If he races well, he can stay on; if not, and he’s sort of a little below them, then he can come home and prepare for the summer and Magic Millions 3YO (Guineas).”
Craig Williams has been booked to ride the colt this Saturday at Caulfield.
Alpine Edge is currently a $26 chance in the Caulfield Guineas, which will be run over a mile on October 9.
