Summary Of Our Trainers’ Tips For Epsom Handicap Day

From John Sargent

Horse: Autumn Blonde
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Gimcrack Stakes) She’s a lovely filly, very strong, you wouldn’t think she’d be running at two with her breeding. She’ll need a lot of luck from the draw (gate 13) but she’s sound and eating well. Whatever she does she’ll only get better over ground and hopefully she will run well.

Horse: China Sea
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Dulcify Stakes) He ran the fastest last 600m of 33.43 secs and final 200m of 11.31 secs in the Ming Dynasty Handicap three weeks ago. He’s a good horse I think, he showed very good sectionals the last bit. I thought he was good enough to go to the JJ Atkins at his second start but it came too soon. He raced on speed that day, he won’t be doing that, he’s a different horse this time in. He’d have to front up if we think he’s going to go further because it’s an even line up not a top notch line up.

Horse: Powers Of Opal
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Flight Stakes) Powers Of Opal signalled her promise with a slashing 3rd in a 1400m Midway at Randwick a month ago where she clocked 32.90 secs for her last 600m. She’ll be closer, there’s no reason to ride her back, she can use the draw (gate 1) and ride her how she feels and she’ll relax there. I’d like her to run in the money to get some Group 1 black type then we can look at where we go. She’s a lot more relaxed now, grown up a bit mentally. As long as she’s hitting the line well I’ll be very happy.

From Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou

Horse: Arctic Glamour
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Epsom Hcp) With a featherweight of 50kg in Saturday’s mile handicap, we decided it was worth rolling the dice. We only started thinking about it two weeks ago. She has been competitive in these races. She meets Gai Waterhouse’s horse (favourite Royal Patronage) five kilos better for finishing two-and-a-half lengths behind it in the Tramway (Stakes). She will run well. She is honest, she has a go, and she might be looking for the 1600 metres now.

From Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald

Horse: My Oberon
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Epsom Hcp) It’s very frustrating that draw (gate 21), because we’re really happy with the way he’s been going. He bounced back to some really good form in the 7 Stakes so I’m sure there will be plenty of discussion about whether he takes his place or not. The blinkers went back on for that second-up run and the mile was going to suit him. He’s in great form and there’s plenty of nice races coming up if we don’t go there. We feel if he can get his chance from the draw then he’ll take his place but if not we’ll look for another option.

Horse: Galeron
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Epsom Hcp) He gets in with a really nice weight (50kg) so we’re happy with the way he’s going, he deserves to take his chance in a race like this and I’m sure he will be very competitive. He’s a little bit out of the handicap. But he’s the sort of horse it doesn’t matter what race he’s in he’s just going to run the same style. From the good draw hopefully he can settle that little more further forward and with plenty of speed on he’ll definitely be rattling home late. It’s throwing him in the deep end but his best form has him right in it. We’ve kept him to the mile, every time he runs over the mile you think he needs further and every time you run him over further he doesn’t see it out. He just needs the right set up to be running well.

From James Cummings

Horse: Zardozi
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, The Metropolitan) She’s been all right in at least two of her three runs this prep and I feel like she’s really warming to a big performance. We were not in a completely dissimilar boat in the lead up to the ATC Oaks in the autumn and I have that in mind when I have persevered toward the Metropolitan despite her unplaced run in the Kingston Town. She drops nicely in weight from the set weights and penalties to the handicap which she has been crying out for this preparation. Stepping out to a mile and a half is right in her wheelhouse so I can see a lot of parallels from the steps she took from the Vinery to the ATC Oaks last preparation.

Horse: Tom Kitten
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Epsom Hcp) I would have liked to have been, to draw (gate 19) a little bit favourable in inside draw, but look his first-up run… it just worked out perfectly, he was able to fall asleep and really savage the line. His last run he had genuine excuses, he got interfered with and it was a very messy race. Probably if you look back at his autumn record, in hindsight it might be a blessing, because the handicapper wasn’t able to get in. So hopefully under-handicapped conditions, we’ll see the real content.

From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Horse: Tuscany
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 2, Breeders’ Plate) Tuscany showed a good turn of foot under James Mcdonald to win an 850m trial at Randwick on September 23, running 49.11 seconds, which was the equal-fastest time of the day. James McDonald was very impressed with him, his time was the fastest and if you’re trying to back a winner with two-year-olds you just go on time, they never fail and he ran the best time.

Horse: Royal Patronage
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Epsom Hcp) First-up he showed great tactical speed over the 1400m (Tramway Stakes) so if he’s able to do that once again I think he can easily offset that draw (gate 17). What surprised us most was the sprint he showed first-up over the shorter trip. We do think he is a horse that has scope to get over a bit further, 2000m I think will be an excellent distance for him going forward. But with that they’re the types of horses that always profile well for these types of races. Obviously last start in the 7 Stakes he was a little bit tardy and got himself into an awkward position so we’d certainly like to see him being on the front foot out of that gate.

Horse: Major Beel
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Epsom Hcp) Impressed by Major Beel’s fleet footedness in his two runs at a mile since contesting the Sydney Cup and plans to make use of the gelding’s 51.5kg. It’s worked the last two runs for him, he gave them something to chase last start and he’ll be hard to run down with a light weight on his back and rated well. We’ve been really encouraged by what we’ve seen from him in two runs this campaign. He’s obviously got plenty of tactical speed and will be really effective in that mile to 2000m range. He’s been so sharp in his two mile runs, it’s the right race to be running in when he’s still well in at the handicaps.

From Chris Waller

Horse: Kovalica
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Epsom Hcp) Kovalica is probably the headline horse. He has been off his best form for a while but his first-up run was good and James McDonald will ride, which is obviously a big plus. He got the perfect draw. A lot of the horses carrying weight in the race have drawn wide so it’s a serious advantage. You won’t be forced to carry that weight from an awkward draw. So, look, I’d say he’s probably going to be our top seed in the race and very hard to beat from that draw (gate 1).

From Joseph Pride

Horse: Think About It
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Premiere Stakes) He didn’t have the best autumn campaign, one that was hampered by barrier draws. This horse has always been best when he gets a good strong tempo in a race and I think we’re going to get that. It’s exciting, he’s a horse that’s still only lightly raced. Who knows, the best might be yet to come.

Horse: Mazu
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Premiere Stakes) Mazu showed a glimpse of his best form when he ran a gutsy 3rd in The Shorts on a good track two weeks ago. I knew he was going to run really well and he ran to a very high standard for a first-up run on a dry track. He should definitely continue on with that.

Horse: Ceolwulf
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Epsom Hcp) Ceolwulf was a convincing winner over 1500m at Rosehill second-up this campaign on August 31 before running a solid 2nd to in-form import Eliyass in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m last start. Ceolwulf has come through his Kingston Town Stakes run in ‘super’ fashion heading towards his next assignment on Saturday. The horse is in great shape, I’m really happy with him. I could have easily gone to The Metrop (The Metropolitan 2400m) with him but I thought The Metrop just left me with less options. I thought the Epsom left more options open, and I think he’s quite sharp this preparation. Yeah, he’ll run well. You’re not getting an unbiased answer here, I’m in love with the horse. I think he’s a star.

From The Editor

Sydney Race 7 – Giga Kick
Sydney Race 9 – Ceolwulf

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