The big Epsom Handicap meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Top gelding Kolding has finally returned to form and he is the horse to beat in the Hill Stakes (Sydney Race 4, 2000m). Last season’s Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle winner was winless from 5 starts during the Autumn. First up this campaign in the Winx Stakes, Kolding didn’t finish the race off after drawing a wide gate before he finished a close 2nd to Dreamforce in the Tramway Stakes. Last start over the Randwick mile, Kolding took out the Group 1 George Main Stakes in brilliant fashion. Kolding has been racing as though he has been looking for a longer trip so stepping up to 2000m 4th up should suit. Beautifully drawn in barrier 2, James McDonald will settle just behind the leaders on the fence and whoever beats Kolding will win the Hill Stakes.
The two top fillies, Dame Giselle and Hungry Heart, will once again lock horns in the Flight Stakes (Sydney Race 5, 1600m). In the Furious Stakes and the Tea Rose Stakes, Dame Giselle did have the measure of Hungry Heart. But stepping up to the mile, I believe Hungry Heart is the stronger of the two fillies. The Frankel filly was still a little immature in the Autumn yet she was good enough to finish 5th in the Golden Slipper. James McDonald retains the mount and from barrier 4, McDonald is going to settle midfield. With a fair bit of pace in the race, it will certainly help Hungry Heart and she is going to run over the top of this field down the long Randwick straight.
Star Of The Seas could well be the best chance amongst Waller’s seven runners in the Epsom Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). The talented gelding had beaten all but Nettoyer over this course in the Doncaster Handicap earlier this year. The 6YO came back in terrific order this campaign with a slashing 2nd when first-up in the Winx Stakes, coming from last at the 800m to be beaten a nose by Verry Elleegant. And last start, Star Of The Seas ran a good 2nd to stablemate Kolding in the WFA George Main Stakes over this track & trip. 1600m is Star Of The Seas’ pet distance as he has only ever missed a place once from six attempts at the trip. Nash Rawiller will get a cushy run from the inside gate (1) and as long as he gets a split in the straight, Star Of The Seas is going to be hard to hold out at the finish.
By Owens Wong, Editor
