The father and son training partnership of Toby and Trent Edmonds is hopeful of claiming another feature scalp in The Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday before going their separate ways after the Magic Millions.
Team Edmonds will saddle up talented four-year-old The Vowels, who will have blinkers back on for the $250,000 The Wave over 1800 metres.
The Wave winner gains a wildcard entry into the $1 million Magic Millions Subzero on Saturday week.
The Vowels – a James Orman mount, replacing the suspended Blake Shinn - was a Queensland Winter Carnival star last year winning the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm in April.
The then three-year-old went on to finish third in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm and second in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben before failing in the Group 1 Queensland Derby.
"He was flying last year as a three-year-old and ran a good third in the Guineas and second in the Rough Habit but he was over the top and drew wide when he failed in the Derby," said co-trainer Trent Edmonds.
The son of Better Than Ready is having his sixth start this campaign and is coming off a last start third in the Listed Bernborough won by the Kris Lees-trained Acquitted last month.
"He ran very well in the Bernborough but just got caught a couple of pairs too far back but he ran on well," Edmonds said.
"He's going super and is crying out for 1800m metres.
"He's primed and is ready to go on his home track and hopefully he can give Dad and I win before I go to Victoria.
"We don't have anything in the Magic Millions Classic or Guineas this year and we'll only a few in the other races on Magic Millions day.
"Alpine Edge will probably run in the QTIS race and we'll have a couple of Country Cup horses in."
Edmonds, 33, will be looking for an early celebration with his wife Natahlia set to give birth in February to a brother or sister to two-year-old Penelope.
"We don't know whether it's a boy or a girl as we both want it to be a surprise," Edmonds said.
Edmonds is chasing his dream to train solo after sharing in Group 1 glory with his father when Tyzone claimed the Stradbroke Handicap in 2020.
"My partner's family lives near Pakenham and to train by myself is something I've always wanted to do and try," he said.
"I'm young enough now and with the baby due in February, I didn't want to wait another four or five years to give it a go."
