Co-trainer Toby Edmonds believes a form advantage can see Alpine Edge return to the winners’ list in the inaugural King Of The Mountain at Toowoomba while earlier in the day Storm The Fortress can rise up the rankings at Doomben towards Magic Millions Day.
Edmonds is often understated about his horses’ chances but with that holds an underlying confidence in their ability to perform, and that is the case with Alpine Edge who travels to Toowoomba on Saturday for the $750,000 King Of The Mountain (1200m).
Equal second favourite at $5.50, the markets are also not shying from the four-year-old by Better Than Ready to notch his first win since July 2021.
“Outside of when he won as a two-year-old, he has raced in some fairly stiff company,” Edmonds said.
“He’s run in the Doomben 10,000, he’s run in the Caulfield Guineas and a lot of really hard races.
“I think he’s ready to go.
“He, and Niccanova especially – he’s been running in Stradbrokes and the like, a lot of these other horses haven’t.”
The King Of The Mountain becomes the latest edition to the ‘slot race’ phenomenon in Australian racing and a first for racing in Queensland.
Local representation is key and that form dominates the lead-up.
The Joshua King-trained Argyle Lane – a winner of five races from seven starts – heads the market at $4.80 with Alpine Edge joined by Je Suis Belle on the second line while Niccanova is at $17.
The race sparked Edmonds’ interest as soon as it was announced and says that Alpine Edge has progressed since his first-up seventh in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Eagle Farm on December 10.
“He’s gone great, actually,” he adds.
“For a colt he doesn’t take too much work and gets quite dour quickly so we don’t need to do too much with him.”
Back in Brisbane, Toby and son Trent saddle up unbeaten gelding Storm The Fortress in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben.
Notching three wins at Gold Coast, the stable is hopeful that Storm The Fortress can rise up the prizemoney ladder to gain a start in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) on January 14.
“The draw is very sticky now – barrier nine of nine,” Edmonds said of Saturday’s race.
“The locals have drawn softly so it is going to get a lovely run but one thing about this horse is that he’ll be very strong through the line at the distance.
“This horse is going to get out to 1600 or 2000 metres in time.
“We just feel that the last 50 or 60 metres is where his pedigree and toughness will kick in so we just need to be close enough on the corner to run them down late.”
Storm The Fortress is rated an $11 chance for the Vo Rogue Plate with Count Da Beans, to be ridden by James McDonald, the $2.30 favourite and Stroll at $3.70.
The gelding by Invader was purchased by the stable at the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $120,000 and is rated a $26 chance for the 3yo Guineas.