Epsom Handicap: Randwick 1600m
Race Overview
| date | Sat 28 Sep 2024 |
| track | Randwick |
| distance | 1600m |
| conditions | Handicap |
| status | Group 1 |
| prizemoney | $1,500,000 |
In Australian racing, we love our big Group 1 handicaps. The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of them all of course, followed by the Caulfield Cup, but we also have three big mile handicaps – the Doncaster, the Toorak and the Epsom. The Epsom is the oldest of all three 1600m races, first run in 1865.
The Group 1 handicaps in early spring are usually fertile ground for four-year-old’s, who are still improving and thus get in with a lighter weight than their true ability might suggest. This is true in the Epsom, with roughly two out of every three winners coming from that age group, including the mighty Winx in 2015. Desert War was the last horse to win back-to-back Epsom’s, in 2004-05, and before him it was Super Impose in 1990-91.
2023 EPSOM HANDICAP PREVIEW
2022 Thousand Guineas winner Madame Pommery was superb when resuming with 58.5kg’s, hitting the line with gusto behind Pericles, getting as close as anyone has to that in-form horse this prep. She wasn’t suited dropping back in distance second-up, and is sure to relish a mile now. The wide draw is no concern in these big Randwick handicaps, but the only niggle is she is yet to win on better than heavy ground.
The four-year-olds are so well suited in these spring handicaps, and Rediener is the one arriving on the scene with a sense of timing. His win in the Bill Ritchie was soft with the promise of more to come, and he’s now won four of his past five.
Nugget wasn’t far away in fourth in the Theo Marks last start, and has Mr Brightside form, from the All Star Mile and Doncaster in the autumn.
The Tramway is a another key lead-up race along the way, won by the scratched Pericles. Hope In Your Heart attacked the line in her usual style, and will be an honest winning chance as always.
Selections: 1.Madame Pommery 2.Rediener 3.Nugget 4.Hope In Your Heart
Expert Tips
MADAME POMMERY
EACH-WAY
* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds
Past Winners Of The Epsom Handicap
| YEAR | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rediener | Kathy O'Hara | Chris Waller |
| 2022 | Top Ranked / Ellsberg dead heat | H.Bowman / B.Avdulla | A.Neaham / G.Ryan & S.Alexiou |
| 2021 | Private Eye | Regan Bayliss | Joe Pride |
| 2020 | Probabeel | Kerrin McEvoy | Jamie Richards |
| 2019 | Kolding | Glen Boss | Chris Waller |
| 2018 | Hartnell | Hugh Bowman | James Cummings |
| 2017 | Happy Clapper | Blake Shinn | Patrick Webster |
| 2016 | Hauraki | James McDonald | John O'Shea |
| 2015 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller |
| 2014 | He's Your Man | Joao Moreira | Chris Waller |
| 2013 | Boban | Glyn Schofield | Chris Waller |
| 2012 | Fat Al | Tommy Berry | Gai Waterhouse |
| 2011 | Secret Admirer | Brenton Avdulla | Grahame Begg |
| 2010 | Captain Sonador | Glen Boss | Roger Milne |