Gold Coast horseman Toby Edmonds is confident his consistent galloper Zahspeed is a winning hope from a gun barrier one draw at Doomben on Saturday in the Listed $300,000 Magic Millions Bernborough Handicap (1600m).
Zhaspeed gets the inside run from barrier one in Saturday’s Bernborough Handicap 2017 field at Doomben Racecourse. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
One of the key races on the Brisbane race card for the weekend, the Bernborough Handicap field features a dozen milers including Cabeza De Vaca who can hand trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott the $50,000 Summer Crown Bonus with a win.
Cabeza De Vaca comes off a lead-up second at Randwick behind Crack Me Up in the Group 2 $250,000 Villiers Stakes (1600m) and is the clear $2.80 favourite in Bernborough Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
One of the four other single-figure hopes at odds of $7 is Edmonds’ Speed ‘N’ Power six-year-old Zahspeed ($7), formerly Victorian-trained by Danny O’Brien, who gets things his way from the inside gate.
Back in early November the gelding posted a two length victory over the Doomben mile, before a close third at Rosehill Gardens over 1800m.
His latest start was back at the Doomben track in the Listed $100,000 Brisbane Handicap (1600m) where from a wide barrier, 13 of 15, he ran just a quarter-length third behind the winner Cantbuybetter.
A better gate on the weekend and James Orman coming aboard on the 54kg minimum has Edmonds quietly confident of a feature race success.
“He’s drawn beautifully in barrier one and will be very strong at the finish,” he told Racing Queensland.
Edmonds prepared last summer’s Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Houtzen (2017) for success in the $2 million feature and could have another filly representing him in the 2018 edition on January 13.
Racing in Saturday’s Group 3 $200,000 Magic Millions B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) looking to make the cut for next month’s classic is Sizzling Ace.
The two-year-old daughter of Sizzling is well down the Magic Millions 2YO Classic order of entry in equal 56th position with just $4,000 in prize money to date after one run.
That maiden effort produced an eye-catching fourth to Outback Barbie in the Listed $100,000 Calaway Gal Stakes (1100m) on December 16.
Out to go one better on Saturday, Sizzling Ace jumps from a wide barrier 10 draw in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes with Jeff Lloyd aboard the $9.50 shot.
A further four other runners represent Edmonds across the Doomben race card including Whypeeo ($4.20) and I Am Impinge ($14) in the Group 3 $200,000 Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate (1350m).
The duo are fighting for a shot at the Restricted Listed $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) and take on the early favourite for that, Pierata, on the weekend in the lead-up.