Ben Thompson found the fast lane hard against the fence on Alpine Edge to deny Emerald Kingdom back-to-back successes in the $775,000 Bentleys 2023 The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton on Sunday.
The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained son of Better Than Ready, did not have the rub of the green when unplaced in the Ascot Quality at Eagle Farm on April 15. That was his first start since capturing the $1,000,000 Magic Millions QTIS Open at the Gold Coast on January 19.
For all but the final 75 metres of The Archer, Thompson preserving for the rails run looked sure to end in tears. He arrived in time to defeat Emerald Kingdom (Bryannbo's Gift) by a half-head with a head back to Weona Smartone (Shamexpress) in third.
"We knew after Magic Millions Day that this was the race we were targeting," Toby Edmonds said.
"A couple of his owners live in Rocky, and we worked hard to get him here. We were keen to get him here last year, but as a three-year-old, he may just have needed another season.
"Credit to the horse. He didn't have the ideal prep. He had an ordinary run in the Ascot where he lost his shoe and didn't perform as we could have liked coming into a race like this.
"Credit to the horse. He's a good horse. He's actually a bloody good horse.
"He's a star for us."
The 4yo son of Better Than Ready was one of the best juveniles in the nation, winning at his first two starts, the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes followed by the Group III BJ McLachlan Stakes. He met defeat for the first time when he was runner-up to Shaquero in the $2,000,000 Magic Millions Classic.
Purchased by Edmonds Racing/Kestral Thoroughbreds/Lucky Clover for $160,000 out of the Yarramalong Park draft from Book 2 of the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Alpine Edge advances his record to five wins and three seconds from 18 starts with earnings of $1,807,625.
Bred by Yarramalong Park, Alpine Edge is the best of three winners from four to race out of the stakes-placed Freeze mare Freezethemillions, who was a $5,000 at the 2013 QTIS Yearling Sale.
Freezethemillions hails from the family of champion racehorse and sire Zeditave. She has been a regular partner of Better Than Ready.
Annabel Neasham/Brian McGuire paid $300,000 for a brother to Alpine Edge consigned by Yarramalong Park to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has been named Port Lockroy.
Freezethemillions has a yearling filly named For Better and a weanling colt by Better Than Ready. She missed when covered by the Lyndhurst Stud Farm stallion last spring.
