Toby Edmonds has strong hand at Eagle Farm

Trainer Toby Edmonds will again test a tried and true theory when Fiery Heights and Raffinato join his strong team at Eagle Farm.

Much of Edmonds’ focus will be on star two-year-old Houtzen on Saturday but he again has a strong hand in several other races at Eagle Farm.

Leading the way will be Raffinato in the Listed Members Cup (1600m) and Fiery Heights in the Open (1200m).

Both were last-start winners in restricted class and are stepping up to open company for the first time.

Edmonds is a believer in the theory in-form horses in benchmark and Class 6 races can take the step up to open company.

“They drop down in the weights and we have seen that helps them take the step up in class,” Edmonds said.

The trainer is keen to enhance Raffinato’s future as a broodmare.

“She might not be up to the better class but this race on Saturday is a stakes race and it would be nice to get some black type beside her name,” Edmonds sad.

Fiery Heights has long been earmarked as a future open company winner and has won five times and been placed a further eight times from 18 starts.

Both will be ridden by leading jockey Jeff Lloyd who will also have several other mounts for Edmonds including Houtzen, I’ve Got A Nel and Bound For Love.

Edmonds and Lloyd won with Always Sacred at Doomben on Wednesday which was their 44th overall winner for the season as a combination.

Lloyd has 96 metropolitan winners for the season and with a strong book of rides on Saturday, could reach 100 without surprising.