FRANKSTON TIMES scoreboard
Edwards’ first Stakes success HORSE RACING
By Ben Triandafillou BALNARRING-based trainer Kerry Edwards landed her first Stakes race with stable star, Rox The Castle, at Flemington on Saturday 14 September. Despite drawing an outside barrier, the former New Zealand galloper was too tough in the Listed $140,000 The Sofitel (1400m) stakes after sitting outside the lead and holding on for a narrow victory. The gutsy win topped off a Mornington-trained trifecta with the Rachel Frost-trained Travimyfriend finishing half-of-alength away in second and the Grahame Begg-trained Romancer finishing a further length behind in third. Trainer Kerry Edwards was understandably ecstatic following the gallant victory. “He is unbelievable,” she said post-race. “That was seriously tough what he did then. Craig (Williams) sat on him as long as he could, it was a little bit close at the end, but he just digs in so deep. I’m so proud of him.” With three horses in work and one being broken in, the parttime trainer has placed the lightly raced Rox The Castle perfectly to bring his record to seven wins and two placings from 12 starts. Also mixing her small training business with work as a gardener, Edwards says having a horse like Rox The Castle makes it even more enjoyable. “I’m just a small stable and I do it all myself so I really can’t handle anymore than four in work at one time so it’s a little bit of a juggling act, but I have the passion for the horses and getting a horse like him is absolutely outstanding,” she said. Champion jockey, Craig Williams, was aboard the four-yearold son of Castledale in his Stakes victory and believes he’ll be a great competitor for more races in the Spring. “There’s no doubt that he’s a Spring class horse but it’ll be interesting to see which way Kerry goes with him,” he said. “They’ve just managed him so well for a lightly raced horse.” Edwards will follow her usual planning strategy and make decisions on where to head next with her star gelding in the coming days once she has an understanding on how he has come through his win. Rox The Castle has now taken his prizemoney past the $250,000 mark.
Mornington trifecta: The Kerry Edwards-trained Rox The Castle leads home a Mornington-trained trifecta in the Listed The Sofitel stakes defeating Travimyfriend and Romancer. Picture: Supplied
THINKING OF SELLING? Speak to your agent about listing on realestateview.com.au.
Be seen everywhere. Frankston Times
17 September 2019
PAGE 19