Toby Edmonds has had more than 100 winners in the past 12 months but few gave him as much satisfaction as reformed “naughty boy” Locus at Ipswich.
Ridden by leading jockey Jeff Lloyd, Locus was sent out at $8.50 and strolled home by 5-1/4 lengths in Wednesday’s 1200m-maiden run on a heavy track.
Edmonds admitted Locus, who is raced by one of his biggest owners Mark Sowerby, had been a work in progress.
“He has been a naughty boy at times. At his first race start he was a good second at the Sunshine Coast so we decided to take him to Scone for a rich maiden,” Edmonds said.
“He stood in the barriers and eventually ran 11th. Since then he has had a few barrier problems and we have had to work with him.”
“But he jumped today and we were able to ride him forward. Hopefully, he can go on from here because he has ability.”
Tegan Harrison continued her reputation as an upset jockey when Treasure Gallery ($15) foiled a big betting move for Winter Bride ($2.30 to $2.10 fav) in the 1200m-benchmark 85.
Harrison has ridden 14 winners this season and about half of them have been at double figure odds.
Trainer Mick Mair missed the win because he was having minor surgery in hospital but he is huge fan of Harrison.
“Mick uses Tegan whenever she can and she rode that horse just as I asked her,” Mair’s wife Belinda said.
