SPICY MARTINI, TOBY EDMONDS AND TAYLOR MARSHALL COMBINE TO LAND A CELEBRATED HOME TOWN VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Saturday, June 13, 2026

A team of three … Spicy Martini, Toby Edmonds and Taylor Marshall … all carried out their respective roles to perfection in a win in the $3 million Stradbroke, Queensland’s signature race that would long be celebrated as a famous hometown victory.

And these three can be mentioned in an interchangeable order … no one being more important in the grand scheme of things than the other.

Toby Edmonds’ decision to purchase Spicy Martine for a paltry $8 000, taking a punt of his judgement of the pedigree, was the spark that lit the fire.

As the trainer, he was also responsible for critical decisions regarding Spicy Martini’s buildup to the big race … the decision to give her a month between runs between both her first and second-up run … and her second-up run going into the Stradbroke … was, as Taylor Marshall put it, “a masterstroke’ … adding, “I just think she is thriving with that programming.”

And he said that before the race!

All of that was in the planning stages and it translated into a trouble-free, confidence building exercise which had Spicy Martini primed and ready to go on the big day.

The decision-making factor reached a more critical level though when the barriers opened for the Stradbroke.

Any moment of hesitation by Taylor Marshall … any wrong choice taken in a split second at full gallop … could have been brought an end to the Stradbroke dream, but Marshall, who was chasing his first Group 1 win, could not have ridden a more perfect or precise race.

If the program mapped out by Edmonds had been a masterstroke … the ride by Marshall was a masterclass … and he gave that surrounded by riders such as James McDonald, Nash Rawiller, Craig Williams and Tim Clark.

Like the trouble free build-up, Marshall’s guidance of Spicy Martini was error-free and will go down as one of the most calm and clinical rides in the race’s history.

And then, of course, there is Spicy Martini herself.
From being hung out to dry on a digital sales platform … wanted … to turning into the performer she has become is one of those amazing stories that is always lying in waiting in racing.

Yes, Spicy Martini did have a few things in her favour going into the race … a light weight, a low draw, a racing surface versatility which allowed her to cope with the heavy going, but the mare not only had to still had to turn up on the day, but she had to bring her A Game and stay fully committed during the contest in order to claim the long-desired result.

She did all of that with something to spare.

It was a great run … cementing the success of a great team effort.

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