Trainer Toby Edmonds hopes leading apprentice Matt McGillivray has learned a valuable lesson after being beaten on Mr Epic at his most recent start.
McGillivray has been the form jockey in Queensland since returning from a stint in NSW and heads both the senior and junior metropolitan premierships this season.
He rode his seventh metropolitan winner of the season when Miss Arabella won at Caloundra on Wednesday.
McGillivray was aboard Mr Epic when he finished a head second to Monteux at Doomben over 2000m two weeks ago and has retained the ride on Saturday in an 1800m open handicap at the Gold Coast.
Edmonds wasn’t critical of McGillivray’s ride but rather hoped it had taught him a lesson.
“Michael Cahill on the winner camped on the leader and was much closer than when third to Mr Epic in their previous clash,” Edmonds said.
“Michael being an old hand got an extra length or so on Mr Epic in the middle stages and it left my horse too much work to do to win.
“Matt probably could have gone forward a bit as well and been closer.”
Edmonds will decide Mr Epic’s future campaign after Saturday’s race in which he will carry 57kg after McGillivray’s claim.
He had been looking at running Mr Epic in some of the NSW Northern Rivers Cups races but is now worried the gelding might get too much weight.
Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan will test his theory that Lord Coconuts and El Campeador can make middle distance horses in the Open Handicap.
El Campeador led all the way to win over 1600m at Doomben three weeks ago with Lord Coconuts coming from last to be a close-up fifth.
“Lord Coconuts hasn’t won past 1650 metres but El Campeador is a winner at the track and distance,” Gollan said.
“I am keen to see how they both go on Saturday from a future point of view.”
