Taylor Marshall has captured his maiden Group One victory in Queensland’s premier race, the Stradbroke Handicap, almost four decades after his late father John Marshall claimed his second win in the event aboard Robian Steele.
Partnering the Toby Edmonds-trained Spicy Martini ($13), Marshall guided the mare to a thrilling victory in Saturday’s $3 million Eagle Farm showpiece. She surged from the pack to hold on by a length over the fast-closing Sepals ($31), with Von Hauke ($41) a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
Marshall, who began his riding career in 2013, had previously achieved his greatest success at Group 3 level. As Spicy Martini hit the front, he contemplated the advice his esteemed father might have been offering.
“I was thinking of Dad saying, ‘patient, patient’. But what a thrill,” Marshall shared. “Every jockey needs that one horse to put them on the map, so to speak, and I’m hoping she’s that one.”
“She has already proven to jag a Group One, and not only a Group One, but Queensland’s most prestigious race. I’m lost for words.”
John Marshall, a champion jockey who rode frequently for Bart Cummings, partnered Rogan Josh to win the 1999 Melbourne Cup. His two Stradbroke Handicap wins aboard Campaign King and Robian Steele, both in 1989, were also for the legendary trainer.
John Marshall sadly passed away in December 2018 at the age of 60.
Spicy Martini has been an outstanding acquisition for trainer Toby Edmonds, who purchased her online for $8000. She has now won six of her twelve starts and earned nearly $2.7 million in stakes.
This victory provided Edmonds with his second Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) crown, and he was pleased to savour this one, as his first with Tyzone in 2020 occurred during the height of the Covid pandemic.
“To win it twice is big. It’s big for me. I’m sixty years of age now, I don’t know how many more years of training I’ve got to go,” Edmonds said. “I’ll tell you one thing, you give me a horse like this, I’ll win another one too.”
The top mare Fangirl did not handle the heavy conditions well but showed great determination, finishing fourth. Jockey James McDonald rated her performance as one of the best of her career.
“She always runs her heart out, but today under trying circumstance she was superb,” McDonald commented. “I thought it was one of the better runs of her career. She doesn’t really handle it (heavy track), but she had the audacity to fight on.”
Trainer Chris Waller indicated earlier this week that Fangirl would continue racing next season, with a potential return in the Winx Stakes (1400m) in August.
Compare the latest betting markets for the Stradbroke Handicap at Australian betting sites.