KEY POINTS:
Star mare Gold Edition will stay in Australia after owner Kevin O'Brien ruled out an overseas campaign.
The four-year-old posted her second group one victory when she led all the way in Saturday's A$400,000 ($465,000) Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in Melbourne.
Queensland trainer Ron Maund, who remained at home in Toowoomba, has said he does not see any reason to take her to the northern hemisphere. O'Brien echoed those sentiments.
"She won't be going overseas, definitely not," O'Brien said.
"We're not going to knock her around."
Leading Queensland jockey Stathi Katsidis jumped aboard Gold Edition for the first time in the Manikato at what was his first ride in Melbourne.
Sent out the popular elect at $3.20, Gold Edition jumped brilliantly and was not headed, scoring by a long neck from South Australian mare Vormista ($21) with Victoria sprinter Dr Nipandtuck ($21) three-quarters of a length away third. Said Katsidis: "I was riding her along just inside the 300 metres, but once she straightened and balanced up I was confident she would win."
Katsidis replaced the suspended Damien Oliver on Gold Edition and it seems likely he will retain the mount.
Maund said during the week that he liked to show faith in his riders and rated Katsidis highly.
"He's one of the better staying riders in Australia and he can win the big sprints too," he said.
Katsidis is also the rider of stablemate Ice Chariot who will run in either the group one Underwood Stakes (1800m) or the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield next Saturday.
Maund's stable foreman Neville Saunders said Gold Edition could be freshened for the group two Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 13 before she races twice at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Maund has earmarked the group two Salinger Stakes (1200m) on November 3 and the group one Age Classic (1200m) a week later.
- AAP
