A sales ring gamble by trainer Toby Edmonds could have a Group One payday at Doomben.
The Edmonds-trained Sagaronne will be taking a major step up in class on Saturday but the usually conservative Gold Coast trainer is convinced she is up to it.
Sagaronne earned her place in the J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) when she came from near last to win the Listed Phoenix Stakes (1350m) a week ago.
Edmonds said he had no concerns about backing her up at the higher level.
“This filly is very good. I think she could also be a big chance in the VRC Oaks later this year,” Edmonds said.
The Gold Coast trainer he was taken with Sagaronne at the Magic Millions sale last year and decided to buy her even though he had no clients interested at the time.
“We really put it on the line when we bought her as we had no owners at the time,” he said.
“But I bought her because I like the sire Real Saga and the dam (Lasoron) was a good mare.”
Edmonds had sold little more than half the shares in the filly when Segenhoe Stud stepped in to buy the rest.
Sagaronne cost $82,5000 and she has recouped that with her two wins from three starts.
Blake Shinn has also boosted Edmonds’ confidence by sticking with the filly in the Atkins.
Although Edmonds has trained several stakes winners, he has yet to experience a Group One win.
Sagaronne was at $18 on Friday with Press Statement the TAB’s $4.40 favourite.
The Chris Waller-trained Press Statement earned the chance to emulate his half brother Pressday, the 2010 winner, with victory at Rosehill last Saturday.
Press Statement’s stablemate Counterattack and the Peter Moody-trained Basset are the joint second picks at $5.
The third of Waller’s runners, Feast For Eyes, is a $13 chance.
