Leading Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds is getting very excited about the chances of his top line sprinter Tyzone in the 2020 Group 1 $350,000 The Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.
Trekking, above, is the favourite for the 2020 The Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Tyzone was runner up to Trekking in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap and he showed that he was on track to go one better this year with an eye-catching final lead up run in the Group 2 $175,000 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Jockey Robbie Fradd settled Tyzone near the tail of the field after jumping from the outside gate in the thirteen horse field and the big-striding gelding could be seen marking up many lengths in the straight to finish two and a quarter lengths behind the winner Victorem in fifth place.
Toby Edmonds, who trains in partnership with his son Trent, said it was an outstanding run and he is now confident that Tyzone has an excellent chance in the Stradbroke Handicap.
“He is on track and can still perform at that level,” Toby Edmonds said.
“His first up run was a little bit plain but his next two have been great and I am quite excited by him.”
“I think they are going to be the same horses that will be running in the Stradbroke (as the Victory Stakes). There might be couple of extras that come in but certainly that horse has been targeted for the Stradbroke for the last twelve months and we feel he is cherry ripe now. That run to me has indicated that.”
“He can be right in the finish of the Stradbroke at big odds.”
“He is great when he gets outside of horses and that is when he is most effective, which is what he has been able to do his last couple of runs.”
Tyzone carried 57kg in the Victory Stakes but will drop to 52.5kg for the Stradbroke Handicap and is marked at $11 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Robbie Fradd has been aboard Tyzone for his past two starts and will be in the saddle again on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Toby and Trent Edmonds are also hoping to have Winter Bride lining up in the Stradbroke Handicap and the mare is listed as a $51 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Toby Edmonds said that Winter Bride over-raced in front without the ear muffs on before fading in the straight to finish sixth in the Victory Stakes and would like to see her ridden more quietly in the Stradbroke Handicap with the ear muffs going back on.
“We took the ear muffs off of her, but she is so electric from the gates that she runs through the bridle when she can actually hear things and she got too fired up. So if she is going to be a chance in the Stradbroke she needs to be ridden quietly,” Toby Edmonds said.
“We will put those (ear muffs) back on if we decide to run her.”
“There is some doubt about her at 1400m. She has come through the run beautifully.”
“She still ran great. She is not a leader clearly.”
The James Cummings trained Trekking carried the Godolphin royal blue colours to victory in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap and the five year old is the $6 favourite to make it back to back wins in Queensland’s signature race.
Trekking carried 54kg when a clear winner last year but will have to burden the top weight of 58kg after original top weight Santa Ana Lane, who was given 58.5kg, was sent for a spell before preparing for the Spring.
Trekking has found winning form at the right time and will head to Queensland on the back of his win in the Group 1 $400,000 The Furphy Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16.
Early betting for the 2020 The Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 Trekking, $7 Dawn Passage, $8 Victorem, $11 Tyzone, Vega One, $12 Niccanova, $13 Hightail, $17 Kementari, Outback Barbie, $19 Deep Image, Ranier, $21 Exhilarates, $26 Amangiri, The Inevitable, $31 Crack Me Up, Irithea, Military Zone, Savatiano, Tactical Advantage, $34 Graff, Grand Piano, Phaistos, $51 or better the rest.
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