The Epsom Handicap meeting will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday but with showers forecast over the next couple of days in Sydney, Randwick could be racing on a slightly Soft track on raceday.
In the first 2YO race of the season, Godolphin-owned Jorda looks very strong in the Gimcrack Stakes (Sydney Race 1, 1000m). The Exceed And Excel filly won her only trial over 850m easily 11days ago, where she sprinted the last 600m in 34.70sec with ease. An interesting gear change will go on Jorda on Saturday as she will be wearing a lugging bit for the first time. Nicely drawn in gate 4, James McDonald will be able to control the race and she will be the one they all have to beat.
The Epsom Handicap has always been an open race over the years in terms of betting and there is no different in this year’s edition (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). And horses towards the top end in the weight scale have found it difficult to win this Group 1 handicap. In the past 30 years, only champions Super Impose, Filante, Racing To Win & Winx have carried 57kg or more to Epsom victory. Hence I would be looking for horses down in the limit. The Waller-trained McCreery has been in good form winning his last 2 starts. This lightly raced 5YO is still on the way up. Dropping back from the easier Rosehill 2000m course to the tough Randwick mile looks perfect. He also has a formidable record over the mile with 3 wins and 2 seconds from 5 attempts over the trip. McCreery is in-form, is lightly weighted (51.5kg), has drawn well (in gate 4) and has a good record at the trip. All weights & measure have pointed to McCreery being the Epsom Handicap winner.
Magic Hurricane will find the 2400m in McGrath The Metropolitan much more to his liking (Sydney Race 8, 2400m). The 7YO was somewhat disappointing in the Autumn. First up this prep, he finished a good 5th over an unsuitable 1400m. 2nd up, he was back in form with a close-up 3rd in the Premier Cup (1900m). He was slightly outclassed at WFA last start in the Hill Stakes. Back to handicap condition on Saturday will suit him better as will the likely Soft condition. Currently at $10.00 in the fixed odds market, Magic Hurricane is surely a value bet.
By Owens Wong, Editor
