The farrier behind Spicy Martini’s Stradbroke dream

Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds knows the saying “no feet, no horse”, and it is why his farrier Scott Byrne is so important to the Stradbroke bid of Spicy Martini.

An $8000 online purchase, which has already outperformed her modest price tag, Spicy Martini is not blessed with the best legs.

“Her conformation means we have to help her with shoes, and Scott has got it right with her,” Edmonds said. “He has devoted hundreds of hours to her, getting the right angles is so important to her to feel comfortable.

“This is her best preparation because her shoes have been right.

“He is a magician.

“If they are a millimetre out, she is not comfortable and can’t perform.

“She got her race plates for the Stradbroke earlier in the week, and she is so happy. So was Scott, which is probably as important.”

Spicy Martini wears different shoes between runs to help with her conformation problems, and proof has been seen on the track leading to a Stradbroke return and hopefully redemption.

She won her way into last year’s Stradbroke by winning the Fred Best Quality, but the big day was over just after they jumped when she was decked and finished closer to last than first.

Then there was a failed Sydney spring preparation, before a long break to focus on the Queensland winter.

The prep started by beating Uncommon James, who franked the form last weekend, in the Ascot Handicap, before a month later, she gave cheek in the Doomben 10,000 beating all but Rothfire and another month on, she is back in the Stradbroke.

“She couldn’t be going any better,” Edmonds said. “She drops in weight and gets barrier two.

“She is not going to get a better chance in a Group 1, but it will come down to if she is good enough.

“We will find that out on Saturday, but we couldn’t do anymore.”

Spicy Martini drops down five kilos from the 10,000 runner-up effort compared to the 3-1/2 kilos $5 favourite Headley Grange drops from his Kingsford Smith Cup win.

However, Spicy Martini is still a $15 chance, which is not a bad price for a mare, which should make her own luck.

“I just want to see her jump and get her chance because last year we came away feeling she never had that chance,” Edmonds said.

“If she gets the same run as the 10,000 they will know she is there at the end.”