The Stradbroke Handicap champion, Spicy Martini, has officially secured a berth in the lucrative Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
Trainer Toby Edmonds confirmed that a deal has been struck with slot-holder Inglis, paving the way for Spicy Martini to compete in the world’s richest turf race on October 17.
This marks the second time Edmonds will have a runner in The Everest, following his charge Houtzen in the inaugural event in 2017, where she finished seventh behind Redzel.
“When Houtzen ran in The Everest, I think a lot of people were sceptical about the race and whether it would last,” Edmonds told Racing And Sports. “But The Everest has become a worldwide phenomenon so it is great to be involved again.”
Spicy Martini’s story is a classic racing “fairytale”, having been purchased as a yearling for just $8000 by Edmonds via an Inglis Digital online auction.
Now a five-year-old, the mare has achieved six wins from 13 starts, amassing $2.73 million in prize money.
Her consistent performances have now earned her a place in The Everest, the planet’s most valuable turf race.
“We were looking for a daughter of Justify and my partner, Holly (Penfold), noticed this filly online,” Edmonds stated.
“I trained her half-sister, Strong Martini, who had a lot of ability but had a few injury issues.”
“We were expecting to go to $20,000 or $30,000 to get the filly so we were pleasantly surprised to get her for just $8000.”
Sebastian Hutch, Inglis Bloodstock’s chief executive, expressed his delight in securing Spicy Martini for The Everest.
“We have had an eye on her for some time and believe she is capable of posting a career best effort in The Everest,” Hutch conveyed.
“One of the most significant things for us wanting to chase her for our slot is she has run a new peak figure each start this year – including a Group 1 victory in The Stradbroke – which tells us she is headed on an upward trajectory and is continually improving and nobody knows where her ceiling is yet.
“She is versatile, having won on everything from a Good 4 to a Heavy 10, she can settle on pace or come from worse than midfield, she’s a dual winner at 1200m but is also a Group 1 winner at 1400m which we believe is a significant advantage in an Everest.
“She was huge first-up when crossing the line alongside Joliestar and being less than a length from winning The Shorts and we feel the race will bring out the best in her.
“Inglis graduates have won six runnings of The Everest and we have run 2nd and 3rd with runners in our slot, so we are excited to have another crack at the race in 2026.”
Spicy Martini’s managing owner, Holly Penfold, described the mare as “incredibly brave and durable”.
“The day she won the Stradbroke back in June, we decided she was going to run at Randwick on October 17, it was just a matter of whether that was going to be in the Sydney Stakes or The Everest and here we are now with an Everest slot thanks to Inglis and we couldn’t be more excited,” Penfold shared.
“We bought this horse on Inglis Digital for $8000, she’s already won us $2.7m from 13 starts and now she’s running in a $20m race.
“It’s legitimately unbelievable really, an absolute fairytale. I never dreamed we’d be running in a $20m race but here we are.
“The Inglis marketing team made a nice video of Spicy [Martini] after she won the Stradbroke and Sebastian sent it to me and I replied ‘there’s an even better video to be made after The Everest’ and we’ve just stayed in contact since then.
“Inglis wanted to see her return well to show she was back, which is completely valid, and her run in The Shorts certainly proved that. She ran extremely well first-up despite having one shoe ripped off and two others shifting.
“We’re going into The Everest with confidence. We know she’ll be a big price but she always is, she’s always underestimated and she always overperforms and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Stradbroke Handicap has proven to be a reliable guide for The Everest, with Think About It completing the double in 2023. Trekking also won the 2019 Stradbroke before finishing third in The Everest later that year.
Edmonds noted that Spicy Martini demonstrated early talent but required time to mature and develop.
“We have taken our time with her and she keeps improving,” Edmonds remarked.
“I don’t think we have seen the best of her yet, either.”
Edmonds confirmed that jockey Taylor Marshall will ride Spicy Martini in The Everest.
“Taylor gets on well with the mare, he won the Stradbroke on her,” Edmonds added.
Spicy Martini will remain stabled at Edmonds’ Gold Coast property until Everest week, when Edmonds will personally transport the mare to Sydney, stabling her at Peter Snowden’s Randwick base.
Spicy Martini becomes the fifth confirmed starter for The Everest, joining Ka Ying Rising (slot-holder Hong Kong Jockey Club), Ninja (Fairway Thoroughbreds), Headwall (Max Whitby, Neil Werrett, Col Madden, Steve McCann), and Blue Door (Newgate).
With the field for The Everest taking shape, keen observers are checking the online bookmakers for the latest odds.