Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Alpine Edge returned to the track a winner on Saturday, charging home impressively to win the final metropolitan 2-year-old race of the Queensland season at Eagle Farm over 1200 metres and trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds hold bold spring ambitions for the untapped colt.
He holds a nomination for next month's G1 Golden Rose S., while the G1 Caulfield Guineas is also likely to be on his agenda, according to Foster, who retained an interest in him after Yarramalong Park sold him for $160,000 to Edmonds Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Lucky Clover Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Part owners, Lucky Clover Thoroughbreds | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"He's matured a lot and he's now looking for further ground. We are pretty confident that the mile is going to be right up his alley. He'll have to leave Queensland now and go south to take on the better races," Foster told TDN AusNZ.
"At this stage, both carnivals are on the agenda and it’s just a matter of how it all fits together and what COVID does.
"Saturday was a matter of us seeing him come back as good as we thought he was. When they go out and do it in that manner, you get confident about saying that 1400 metres and 1600 metres is going to suit him a lot better than 1200 metres."
Alpine Edge made quick progress in his first preparation as a 2-year-old, winning the Listed Phelan Ready S. and G3 BJ McLachlan S. at his first two starts before running second to Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
He then contested the G2 Todman S. before the Edmonds sent him to the paddock with a focus on the early 3-year-old riches.
"Getting to the (Magic) Millions was a bit of a rush job. He didn't have much pre-training in the lead-up to any of those races. He was always behind the eight ball and so to get as far as he did was amazing, because the competition had all had two more preps than him. He was the green horse in amongst them," Foster said.
"That said, he's a strong guy and he has filled out further. He's got a big stride and a big cruising speed. What he really showed yesterday in the last 50 metres was that the further he went, the better he was going. He really put them away."
A Better flagbearer
For Foster, Alpine Edge's success also has the multiplying effect of bolstering the record of his sire, Better Than Ready.
Foster was instrumental in securing Better Than Ready to stand at Lyndhurst Stud Farm, and retains a significant interest in the stallion, who has had a rapid rise with three crops to the track so far.
Better Than Ready has had 121 winners to date, including five at stakes level, but is yet to have that absolute top-liner as an ambassador.
Better Than Ready | Standing at Lyndhurst Stud
Alpine Edge could very much become that horse this campaign and put the spotlight on his sire, who stands his seventh season at $33,000 (inc GST) at Lyndhurst in 2021.
"That's our hope. With a Queensland stallion, to get them recognised across the board, especially with the southern trainers, you have to go down there and win on their turf. That hasn't happened so far. There haven't been a lot of Better Than Readys venture over the border," Foster said.
The results back that contention up, with all eight stakes wins by Better Than Ready's progeny coming in Queensland to date.
"It’s going to be a great marquee for us if he can go down there and beat them on their turf, which is what we are planning with him."
"It’s going to be a great marquee for us if he (Alpine Eagle) can go down there (Victoria) and beat them on their turf, which is what we are planning with him." - Richard Foster
COVID-19 lockdowns are making those plans complicated, but Alpine Edge is likely to next tackle the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality, currently scheduled at Rosehill, on August 28.
The other upside of Alpine Edge's spring could be a further boost to the other progeny of his dam, Freezethemillions (Freeze), who is set to foal again to Better Than Ready at Yarramalong this spring.
A now yearling brother to Alpine Edge is set to go through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale next January, while Freezethemillions will return to Better Than Ready for a fourth time later this year.
"There's a bit of nick there. That mare carries a double to Buckpasser in her and More Than Ready is inbred to that sireline. It’s a big nick," Foster said.
"We’ve followed that up and we have bought a few more mares with the same nicks to put to him this year. It will be interesting to see how that goes."
