Trainer Toby Edmonds is confident that Granados will have no problems running out the 2400 metres trip in the Queensland Derby, but is unsure whether the filly has the class to win the Group 1 event at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Chris Munce has been booked to ride Granados in the 2914 Queensland Derby this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Granados has only score one race win from ten starts in her racing career, but scored an impressive victory when she was stepped up to 2242 metres in the Gallopers $1 Membership Maiden (2242m) at Eagle Farm on April 30.
Edmonds told Racing Ahead that Granados has the pedigree to be competitive in a race like the 2014 Queensland Derby, being out of 2003 South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha, and the Gold Coast-based trainer is confident that the progressive filly will be grinding away in the final stages of her Group 1 debut this weekend.
“Granados is in good shape,” Edmonds said.
“I’m not quite sure whether she is up to the grade, but she certainly has the pedigree to have a crack at a race like this, so we have thrown her in the deep end.
“She will certainly run the mile and a half out, but whether she does it quick enough is the problem.
“She hasn’t got a great turn of foot, but she will grind away and the closer she is in the run the better.”
Granados was included in the acceptances for the 2014 Queensland Oaks, but missed out on a start in the Group 1 event that was run at Eagle Farm last weekend and instead contested The Holiday Club Handicap (1800m) at the Gold Coast.
The Encosta De Lago filly made up good ground late to finish second behind Meteorologist and Edmonds has been happy with the way that she has come out of the race.
“We threw the nom up because we were a little bit behind getting up the prizemoney to run in the Oaks and she didn’t gain a start in the Oaks so we have accepted this week,” Edmonds said.
“She raced last Saturday at the Gold Coast as a bit of a tide over for this if she gained a start and she ran second and ran pretty good.
“She came from a fair way back around the tight track and finished off strong.”
Granados is currently the clear outsider in the 2014 Queensland Derby betting market at Ladbrokes Australia and is available at the lengthy quote of $201.
