The Toby Edmonds-trained Spicy Martini upstaged older and more experienced rivals to win Saturday’s Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, keeping the trophy of Queensland’s greatest race in local hands.

From barrier two, the $13 chance hopped out well and sat in fifth place before sneaking closer on the home bend as the field rejected the running rail.

Early pacemaker Private Eye ($16) gave a kick but was soon accosted by Spicy Martini, who drilled through to take the front at the 250m.

Under Taylor Marshall’s vigour, the Justify four-year-old ripped away and despite a late thrust from Sepals ($51), Spicy Martini held a length margin.

Taylor is the son of late Perth-born jockey John Marshall, who won the 1999 Melbourne Cup with Rogan Josh, and the 33-year-old landed his first Group 1 triumph.

He had faced pressure retaining the ride on such an impressive type over recent months but Edmonds had remained staunch in his corner.

“I didn’t know how I was going to react, and I was choking up a little bit just pulling up there,” Marshall said.

“I do just want to thank Toby for placing faith in me and sticking solid because I’ve had a terrific affiliation with her. Oh, what a feeling!

“She’s an absolute superstar. She’s so resilient for a mare. She goes on any surface, puts herself there, and I thought if we could step cleanly and possie up just in behind them, I thought that was job half-done.

“When we landed there, she just travelled into it beautifully. I was thinking of Dad saying, ‘patient, patient’, but what a thrill.

“I think every jockey needs that one horse to put them on the map so to speak. I’m hoping she’s that one.

“To win a Group 1 – not just any Group 1, Queensland’s most prestigious race - I’m lost for words.”

For Edmonds, it was a second Stradbroke victory, though this one was far more significant.

His previous success with Tyzone in 2020 was rewarded with a comparatively paltry $350,000 total purse during COVID-19.

“This is a bit more money. It’s twice as big (for me),” he said.

“60 years of age now; how many more years I’ve got training, I’m not sure.

“But I’ll tell you one thing, you give me a horse like that I’ll win another one, too.”

Possessing top bloodlines, Spicy Martini was bought cheaply from Coolmore Stud (as agent) in a March 2023 online sale.

“We fluked it. Online, bought her for $8,000,” Edmonds said.

“Great pedigree and (now) a very, very valuable filly.

“The last three months, we’ve been digging in and working really hard on this mare.

“I’ve got to give mention to my farrier Scotty Bryce, who works tirelessly on her.”