Written by Georgie Dennis
It took just one trip to the races for the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready) to secure a start in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, as he took out the Listed Phelan Ready S. on debut at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The colt was clean out of the barriers and went straight to the front under Robbie Fradd, before kicking away at the top of the straight. He was challenged late in the piece by Cochrane (Spirit Of Boom) but fought hard to line and held on the win by 0.1l.
Speaking to Sky Thoroughbred Central, Trent Edmonds said he wasn’t expecting the colt to lead but was pleased to see him tough out the win.
“I was quite surprised to see him lead, but when the favourite was a little tardy away, he got there,” the trainer said.
“To be fair, the horse from Melbourne (Rambeau) kept him honest for the entirety. It’s a big relief, quite an amazing feeling to be honest.
“To be fair, the horse from Melbourne (Rambeau) kept him honest for the entirety. It’s a big relief, quite an amazing feeling to be honest." - Trent Edmonds
“This race has been good to us, I think that is our third win. He has a stack of improvement to come, he came here very soft today so it’s really good.”
Now qualified for next month’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Edmonds said Alpine Edge will follow the tried and true method of having one run a week before the $3 million juvenile race.
“He is a Magic Millions horse; we bought him at the Sunday session and we’ll head that way,” Edmonds said.
“We will follow what is now tried and true path, giving him a week off, and he can start a week before (the 2YO Classic) then back up.”
Edmonds said one of the colt’s best features is his attitude and that has been a key to getting him this far in his campaign.
“I actually said to the strapper out the back, ‘you might have to take him for a walk and just check that he’s breathing,’ because he was so relaxed, it’s like he’s been here 100 times before.
“And as I said, I think he’s got a stack of improvement left. To lead when he’s never led before then to have to wander about and get off the fence a bit, it was a good effort.
“He has got a lovely big, long, lopping action. I think we are not going to see the best of him until a little bit later so whatever he is doing now is on raw ability.”
Alpine Edge as a yearling
Alpine Edge was purchased by Edmonds Racing, Kestral Thoroughbreds and Lucky Clover, for $160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarramalong Park and is the third foal of stakes-placed mare Freezethemillions (Freeze).
From the family of stallions Zeditave, Jet Spur and Pariah, Freezethemillions has a yearling colt by Deep Field, who will be offered at next month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and foaled a brother to Alpine Edge this year, while she was again served by Better Than Ready this season.
Alpine Edge also becomes the fourth stakes winner for Lyndhurst Stud stallion Better Than Ready.
