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Edmonds hopes to end year with a bang at Doomben

29 December 2017

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Toby Edmonds is hoping to end another successful year with a bang at Doomben on Saturday.

Edmonds has six runners on the day including Whypeeo and I Am Impinge in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate, Zahspeed in the Listed Bernborough Handicap and Sizzling Ace in the Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes.

He started the year with his biggest win in racing when Houtzen claimed the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.

He went on to have his best ever season in the 2016-17 trainers’ premiership finishing second to Tony Gollan while he also finished fifth in the Queensland trainers’ title won by Toowoomba’s Ben Currie.

Edmonds is confident Whypeeo can prove his critics wrong by seeing out the 1350-metre distance in the Vo Rogue Plate.

Whypeeo emerged as a serious contender for a $500,000 Summer Crown bonus on offer to any horse who wins three of the five-race series following his Listed Gold Edition Plate victory at Doomben last start.

However, some critics doubt Whypeeo’s stamina to run the Vo Rogue trip, but not Edmonds.

“It was a good tough win in the Gold Edition and he’s made good progress since,” Edmonds said.

“He was a bit new when he ran third first up at Canterbury but he’s improved a lot since then.

“I can’t see why he won't run the trip. He was strong enough at the end last start and Jeff (Lloyd) let him run well before the corner.

“If we can dictate up on the speed somewhere he should run well.”

Both Whypeeo and I Am Impinge are sons of I Am Invincible and are entered for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.

“They may be by the same sire but they are totally different horses,” Edmonds said.

“I Am Impinge is more of a winter, autumn horse but we’re giving him his chance to run in the Magic Millions Guineas.

“He bounced back to form last start when we put blinkers on him.”

Lloyd, who rode both sprinters at their last starts has shown his preference by electing to ride Whypeeo.

“I think Whypeeo is our best hope. He’s a far sharper horse,” Edmonds said.

Edmonds expects a strong showing from Zahspeed in the Bernborough Handicap following the gelding’s last start third in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.

“He’s drawn beautifully in barrier one and will be very strong at the finish,” Edmonds said.

Racing Queensland webnews   December 29