The Epsom Handicap is always one of the best betting races on the Australian racing calendar and that will be the case again in 2017.
The 2017 Epsom Handicap has drawn a strong field of gallopers and as has become tradition in the race, leading trainer Chris Waller has an extremely strong hand.
Can Waller win his fourth Epsom Handicap in five years or will another trainer claim the prize? We have analysed every horse in the field and our complete 2017 Epsom Handicap tips can be found below.
Happy Clapper
Happy Clapper has been absolutely flying this preparation and he is a deserving favourite in our 2017 Epsom Handicap betting market. He returned to the races with a classy victory in the Tramway Stakes first-up and he gave Winx a serious contest in the George Main Stakes. He does have the top weight, but he is the class horse in this field and he maps to get a lovely trail into this race with Blake Shinn in the saddle. There isn’t a great deal of value at his current price, but there is no doubt that he is the horse to beat.
Foxplay
Foxplay was enormous first-up when she almost beat Winx in the George Main Stakes, but she was unable to replicate that level of that effort in the George Main Stakes and she was handily beaten by Happy Clapper. She does have the benefit of Hugh Bowman in the saddle, but the barrier draw is a touch awkward and I’m not sure that she has the scope to turn-the-tables on Happy Clapper.
Sound Proposition
Sound Proposition is racing in career best form and he was only narrowly denied by Got Unders in the Cameron Handicap. The Cameron Handicap is generally not the strongest form reference for the Epsom Handicap and he would need to go to another level to be any chance of winning, but it would not surprise if he ran a nice race.
He’s Our Rokkii
He’s Our Rokkii had genuine excuses when he failed to fire in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes and on his best form he would go into the Epsom Handicap as a genuine contender. He wasn’t far from his best first-up in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and he does have a liking for Royal Randwick – he has recorded two wins from as many starts at the venue. He can settle just behind the leaders and represents excellent value at the current quote of $16.
Red Excitement
Red Excitement gave Winx the scare of her life in the Chelmsford Stakes, but he was unable to replicate that performance in the George Main Stakes. He is obviously capable of a special effort on his day, but it is tough to get back him off his last run and he is not a horse that generally improves as he gets further into his preparation.
McCreery
McCreery looked like a star in the making this time last year, but he hasn’t been able to take the next step. He was fairly plain in both the Tramway Stakes and the George Main Stakes and he would need to improve significantly to be a factor in the 2017 Epsom Handicap.
I Am A Star
I Am A Star is another horse that is yet to show her best during the 2017 Spring Racing Carnival. She dropped back in class and looked very well-placed in the Let’s Elope Stakes, but she failed to finish off the race. This is much tougher and even on her best form she would struggle to win.
Zanbagh
Zanbagh pops up with an impressive win every now and then and she did just that in the Tibbie Stakes. She is a mare that has never really run well outside of mares company and I simply don’t think that she is good enough to win an Epsom Handicap.
Tom Melbourne
What do we do with Tom Melbourne? He has looked like the winner in all three of his starts since he joined the Chris Waller stable, but has been narrowly denied victory. On pure form he does get into this race very well and he has run well for Glen Boss in the past, but it is tough to have any confidence in a horse that hasn’t won for over a year.
Egg Tart
Egg Tart has developed an eye irritation since she returned to the races in the Theo Marks Stakes and there is a chance that she will not be cleared to run in the Epsom Handicap. Even she if she does run in the Epsom Handicap I am keen to take her on. She made up plenty of ground late in the Theo Marks Stakes and there is no doubt that she is a talented horse, but barrier one is far from ideal. Egg Tart lacks early speed and there will be plenty of horses in front of her. She will need a great deal of luck in running and because of that I can’t get her as short as the $5 that is currently available.
Comin’ Through
Comin’ Through has shown what he is capable of this preparation and he is excellent value to claim a maiden Group 1 victory in the Epsom Handicap. He has shown plenty of toughness to win both his starts this campaign – he was particularly brave in the Bill Ritchie Handicap – and he is a horse that is capable of making his own luck right on the speed. The wide barrier draw could actually be an advantage as it gives Joao Moreira plenty of options and he does have the tactical speed to take up a forward position. Last Spring he went to another level third-up to win the Carbine Club Stakes and if he does that again he will prove to be incredibly tough to beat.
Savile Row
Savile Row made his Australian racing debut with a very poor effort in the Bobbie Lewis Quality. He is a talented horse that has been placed at Group 1 level over a mile in New Zealand, but he steps from 1200 metres up to 1600 metres for this race and that is far from an ideal preparation.
Snitzson
Snitzson ran an enormous race to finish third in the Australian Guineas in the Autumn, but he has been unable to return to that sort of level during his Spring campaign. He is deserving of his position as one of the outsiders in this field.
Embley
Embley is a progressive horse on the way up, but he has been thrown in the deep-end here in the Epsom Handicap. He was excellent in the Shoot Out Mile and he does make his own luck, but I doubt that he is up to a race of this quality at this stage of his racing career.