Mr Epic steps up to plate after The Virginian involved in late scratching drama at Eagle Farm

TOBY Edmonds will monitor The Virginian closely but hopes the Stradbroke placegetter will ­recover quickly after being a dramatic late scratching at Eagle Farm.

Tough horse: Mr Epic wins his first open company race at Eagle Farm. Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

TOBY Edmonds will monitor potential topliner The Virginian closely but hopes the Stradbroke placegetter will ­recover quickly after being a dramatic late scratching at Eagle Farm.

The Virginian was rated $1.50 for the Class 3 Plate, but was scratched after being diagnosed with “a mild case of colic” by Racing Queensland vet Martin Lenz.

Edmonds said the early signs were positive that he would make a full recovery.

“We’ve got him home now so we just have to wait and see how he is. Hopefully it won’t set him back much,” Edmonds said.

With The Virginian a late omission, consistent miler Mr Epic was left to represent the stable at the meeting and after being heavily backed, comfortably landed his first open company win.

Mr Epic has now won four races this preparation, including three of them at Eagle Farm.

Edmonds said he was toying with the idea of a Melbourne trip for Mr Epic, but was mindful he has had some tough racing through the winter, so the trip is up in the air.

“He’s just a really tough, fit horse and he’s grown a leg since we came back to Eagle Farm,” the trainer said.

Shamfrancisco delivered a welcome gift for her visiting owners as she took advantage of the late scratching of hot favourite The Virginian to win Saturday’s day’s Class 3 Plate.

Mr Epic has now won four races this preparation, including three of them at Eagle Farm. Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

Even in the absence of The Virginian, trainer David Vandyke has tipped a bright future for Shamfrancisco, who is now the winner of four from nine.

“She has been quite fizzy. The Shamardals need a bit of time and she’s coming right now,” Vandyke said.

“We saw something a bit different today. She was half off the bit and I’ve been waiting for her to do that. It’s a good sign that she will get further. If she can get 1200m, I think we are looking at some serious races.”

Shamfrancisco’s owners had flown in from the UAE to witness the mare’s win.

Earlier, San Telmo lived up to his staying pedigree when relishing the extra ground to win over 2200m.

He has now had four runs at Eagle Farm for new trainer Brad Smith for two wins and two minor placings.

“We came here thinking we had the best horse. The only question mark was whether he was going to need the run over the middle distance for the first time this prep on the testing track,” Smith said.

“Michael (Hellyer) has had a good association with him, but with the 57.5kg we opted for the claim for Josh Oliver and he didn’t know himself with that kind of weight.”

Originally published as Mr Epic steps up to plate after The Virginian involved in late scratching drama at Eagle Farm