The ever astute Toby Edmonds subscribes to the theory that a good memory is a prime requisite for any horse trainer. A comment made by fellow Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa this time last year inspired Toby to nominate veteran sprinter Hard Empire for Saturday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes. “Michael entered Phobetor for last year’s Missile because his horse was super fit while most of his rivals were just beginning their spring campaigns,” said Toby. “This was an identical situation. I felt my bloke might have a fitness edge on horses like Count De Rupee, Forbidden Love, Hilal and Belucci Babe.
“The presence of Prime Candidate guaranteed a genuine speed, and Hard Empire loves nothing more than coming off the pace with plenty of galloping room. It all fell into place, thanks to a perfect ride from Rachel King. The very experienced Cyril Small rode this horse in his final gallop last Tuesday morning, and was very upbeat about his work. I’m not saying I expected him to win but I sure as hell thought he’d run a big race.”
Hard Empire is one racehorse who doesn’t need to carry a set of colours for identification purposes - not so much for the symmetry of his perfect white blaze or his spectacular white hind stockings, but for the abnormally low carriage of his head. It’s a safe bet that a rider not aware of this trait could expect a buck or a pig root to be in the offing. Rachel King, having her first ride for the Edmonds stable seemed comfortable with the chestnut’s racing habits and had him travelling generously a little worse than midfield to the turn. King brought him across Gemsong’s heels topping the rise and asked him to extend. Hard Empire was in full flight as some of the others started to feel the pinch, and the Group 2 was all over in a few strides. Any trainer will tell you that there is no more rewarding experience than to have a long range plan come off.
Nine year old Hard Empire gets the better of Wandabaa and Gem Song in the closing stages of the Missile Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Hard Empire is one of the most widely travelled horses in the nation. His career began in Tasmania where he won three of seven starts for Adam Trinder before being transferred to Darren Weir in Victoria. He won two of ten races in that state before the trainer’s licence was placed under review, and it was off to a new home in Adelaide with the father/daughter training duo of Richard and Chantelle Jolly. He won four of thirteen starts for his new trainers and ran a cracking fourth, beaten only by 1.6 lengths in the Gr 1 Goodwood Hcp won by Despatch in 2019.
The much travelled gelding had his first start for Toby and Trent Edmonds off a long spell and two barrier trials in November of 2020. He scored a smart first up win in the Canadian Club Quality with Jim Byrne in the saddle, and followed that with a strong fourth to Jonker at Doomben. Three weeks later he was brilliant in turning the tables on Jonker in the Gr 3 George Moore Stakes at Doomben, and followed that with a creditable fourth (1.7 lengths) in the Magic Millions Snippets. The paddock beckoned.
He returned in April 2021 and actually won one of his two trials by a good space, but Toby and Trent were not completely satisfied. Their fears were realised when Hard Empire presented with noticeable filling in a front fetlock joint which required immediate surgery. After the removal of a bone chip he was turned out for another long spell. He returned in November 2021 with two barrier trial appearances and four race starts over the Christman/New Year period. “He wasn’t disgraced in any of them but just wasn’t quite himself,’ said Toby. “We had a yarn with owners Lima Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd and decided to spell him again with the possibility of one more preparation if he gave us all the right signals.”
The much travelled Hard Empire has won in four states. His low head carriage was evident as far back as 2017 when he won this race at Bendigo with John Allen on board - courtesy Racing Photos
Those signals were very encouraging when Hard Empire won two barrier trials in June and plans were put in motion to set him for the Listed Ramornie Hcp at Grafton on July 13th. It turned out to be a pretty slick Ramornie field, but Toby and Trent were thrilled with the horse’s progress in the run up. “I was pretty disappointed when he just flopped out of the gates and was cluttered up at the tail of the field all the way to the turn,” said Toby. “He was absolute last at the 300m and had to come across the heels of three or four horses before he got to the outside. The bird had flown of course and he was placed officially eleventh, but only three lengths from the winner Ranges. He should have been right in the finish and Saturday’s win confirms my opinion.”
When the runaway horse collected Toby at Aquis Park he didn't expect to be collecting trophies almost three years on - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
There’s nothing like a life in racing to bring fluctuating fortunes. Just ask Toby Edmonds who in late 2019 was involved in a freakish accident at the Gold Coast track when he instinctively jumped in front of a runaway horse in an endeavour to slow it down. Usually a loose horse will swerve to miss the person obstructing it. This one swerved towards Toby, and actually stepped on his foot before slamming him onto concrete paving. He was knocked unconscious and onlookers feared for his welfare as he was placed into an ambulance.
Extensive tests cleared him of any serious injury, although he suffered a slight brain bleed and required several stitches to a gash at the back of his head. He felt the effects of a very serious impact and took several weeks to recover his strength and confidence.
Six months later the Scone born horseman was on the other end of the unpredictable spectrum of racing luck. He experienced racing’s highest of highs when he and son Trent produced Tyzone to score a barnstorming win in the rich Stradbroke Hcp - a Gr1 first for Toby individually, and for the Edmonds training partnership.
Perhaps Toby’s favourite story when it comes to dinner party conversation is the well documented tale of his early connection with a horse destined to become one of the world’s most sought after stallions. In the year 2000 Toby was invited by former bookmaker Ray Gall to move from the Gold Coast to Warwick Farm to become his private Sydney trainer. In 2006 Ray asked him to chase an Invincible Spirit/Cannarelle colt at the Inglis Classic Sale. Toby went over budget to purchase the colt for $62,500 and was delighted to become the first trainer of I Am Invincible.
Toby was the original trainer of champion stallion I Am Invincible who is described as the perfect thoroughbred specimen.
He was to give the stunning looking colt only four starts for one effortless two year old win at Warwick Farm. I Am Invincible’s short racing career was impeded by feet issues which required a great deal of management. He was to have only 13 race starts in total for 5 wins and 2 placings for $270,000. He won a listed race and a Gr 3 but Gr 1 success eluded him. The closest he got at the elite level was a second to Takeover Target in the 2009 Goodwood Hcp at Morphettville, with Darren Gauci on board. He was trained in Victoria by Peter Morgan for the latter part of his career. His 2022 stud fee has been fixed at a whopping $247,500. He returns to the pre pandemic fee he was commanding in 2019.
When Toby acquired Houtzen on spec at the Magic Millions sale for $105,000 he didn’t have an owner locked in. She was quickly syndicated and gave the lucky owners the ride of their lives. The flying filly won by 4 lengths at Doomben at her first start, and by 4.5 lengths on the Gold Coast at her second. At start number three she overcame a wide gate to win the Magic Millions Classic with sheer, explosive speed. Following a short break she won first up at Eagle Farm by 4 lengths, before heading south for the Golden Slipper. She weakened into fifth place behind She Will Reign after leading them up on a bottomless Heavy 10 track.
The daughter of I Am Invincible later won Group 3 races at Moonee Valley and Randwick and a stakes race at Doomben, but missed a place in the Magic Millions Snippets. She was given a long spell before heading to Royal Ascot in the care of Trent Edmonds.
Houtzen's only Sydney win was in the PJ Bell Stakes with Glyn Scholfield in the saddle 2018 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
After blundering out of the barrier Houtzen was never sighted in the King’s Stand Stakes after which she was taken over by a new trainer in Martin Meade. Six weeks later she finished second in a stakes race at Goodwood and was then shipped to Ireland where she was unplaced but not disgraced in a 1000m race at The Curragh. Houtzen was in the news some time later when she made US $1.5 million in foal to Curlin, at the Keeneland Sale. The Aussie flying machine found a new home at the famous Stonestreet Farm in Kentucky.
Toby talks to Sky Thoroughbred Central after a Randwick win by Winter Bride 2019 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Toby and Trent cherish the memories provided by the wing footed filly and continue their endless pursuit of another one. They are currently working a 60 horse team from their Bundall operation, and the winners flow at a regular rate. Toby says he’s mildly excited by a couple of unraced three year olds. One of them is Barassi who’s not far off a start while the other is a Lonhro colt who is yet to be named. The trainer also speaks highly of four year old mare Me Me Lagarde who’s shown plenty of ability in three Brisbane wins.
Missile Stakes day 2022 will stay in Toby’s mind for a long time to come. He flew from the Gold Coast on Saturday morning to be picked up at the airport by daughter Jordan who was formerly a valued member of his staff but nowadays lives in Sydney with her partner Jean Van Overmeire. The hard working jockey added to the euphoria of Toby’s special day by landing a winning treble at the Newcastle meeting. Jordan and Jean are still celebrating the arrival of baby Hugo in February. It was one very contented horse trainer who boarded his return flight to Coolangatta early on Saturday evening.
(Banner image - Rachel King was chuffed to add the Gr.2 Missile Stakes to her impressive CV - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)