Murphy’s investment delivering dream stable for Edwards

By Jordan Gerrans

Through the likes of Margot's Deel, Alpha Sofie and others, Deagon conditioner Jason Edwards feels he has a quality team in his barn unlike any he has boasted before.

The common denominator with these gallopers for Edwards is the backing of big-spending owner Tosh Murphy. 

Alpha Sofie has since moved on to Melbourne to chase higher honours, but the 45-year-old Edwards is optimistic there are a few more on the way through the Murphy ownership pipeline to his barn. 

Current stable star Margot's Deel gets her chance to land a significant 2026 Queensland Racing Carnival blow this Saturday at the Gold Coast as Edwards hopes there is more to come deeper into her preparation. 

“It is absolutely amazing to have someone like Tosh Murphy as an owner,” the trainer said.

“He is what stables need; you need support of guys that can buy good ammunition and give you good stock.

“You're not guaranteed to get good horses out of it, but I think you give yourself a bit better chance.

“We've got some really nice young ones coming through that I think can measure up to being handy horses.

“Tosh and I have gone to the sales this year and we've gone halves in some good quality yearlings, which we're trying to syndicate.

“They are probably horses which I've never had the opportunity to buy in the past so fingers crossed we can kick some goals with them.”

Murphy is a Melbourne Cup winner as an owner as well as being a Queensland property developer. Murphy's horses race in colours similar to those of the Brisbane Broncos.

On top of Margot's Deel, the owner and trainer also have youngsters Punishment Day, Manxsea and Equinox King coming through the ranks. 

The Murphy and Edwards partnership has been prolific in recent times. 

Margot's Deel has quickly racked up three victories and as many minor placings from 10 efforts.

The four-year-old mare has competed in feature events through the start of 2026 and heads to the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast on Saturday. 

Alpha Sofie won two of her first three starts for the owner and trainer in Brisbane before she was transferred south to the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman training team in Victoria. 

The three-year-old has since gone on to triumph twice at black-type level in Melbourne. 

The Deagon mentor has no sour grapes about losing a potential flag bearer for his stable and is just focusing his attention on Margot's Deel and the remainder of his team. 

Edwards has sizeable carnival plans for his daughter of Dundeel following Saturday’s Gold Coast assignment over 1400 metres. 

Margot's Deel has drawn the four alley for the Silk Stocking and will go around with just 53kg on her back. 

As of Friday morning, the bookmakers have her as a $16 hope in the event. 

“Ideally, I'd love her to be sharp and good over the 1400 metres,” he said.

“If we do stay with the 1400 metres, there's some really good fillies and mares’ races right at the end carnival over 1400 metres.

“But, I think she's a good miler. There is the Magic Millions National Classic that's a fillies and mares race over a mile.

“I think that would be ideal for her if we could earmark that one as a grand final and there's some other nice races along the way for her, as well.”

The team threw Margot's Deel in the deep end at her last start in the Listed Brisbane Handicap as she took on the likes of Group 1 champion Antino.

It was a big task for a galloper in just her 10^th start.

Edwards, who has been training in his own right for a touch over a decade, feels that his current stable star will be at her best in 2027.

“I absolutely do dream of bigger and better races for her,” he said.

“I think she's still 12 months away from being a really good horse.

“She's still very lightly raced, she improves all the time and I think in 12 months’ time realistically she'll be right up to those sorts of races.

“When Alpha Sofie came along, she was a great addition to our stable and it was very unexpected.

“She did a good job while she was here and then she went on to Victoria and did some great things there, also.

“But, just as soon as she left, Margot's Deel just stepped in straight away and just filled that gap straight away.

“So, maybe, she's better than Alpha Sofie, let's hope so. Fingers crossed.”

Edwards prepares a team of 18 from Deagon on Brisbane’s northside. 

He says the quiet surrounds of Deagon have been key in Margot's Deel’s development as she was a bit ‘fizzy’ in the early days before settling down in recent times. 

Following Saturday, Edwards heads to Ipswich Turf Club on Wednesday with Rock Ya in the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 2170 metres while Boomtown Laddie will tackle the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate over 1350 metres.