2018 Epsom Handicap Day Preview

The Gimcrack Stakes is always a very tricky race to analyse as we only have barrier trials to go on. One filly that did impress at the trials was Bright Rubick. She missed the start a touch and got a long way back, but the way that she found the line was very impressive and she looks like a professional filly. She maps to get a lovely run from barrier four and she is worth a small bet in what is an open edition of the race.

1 Unit Bright Rubick

He didn’t run the quickest time in his debut barrier trial, but Covert Ops was still able to win by eight lengths and it is tough to see how he has opened at $17. Covert Ops settled outsider the leader in his trial and they went pretty quickly before he sprinted away from the rest of the field when he was asked for an extra effort. There are a number of very promising colts in this field, but the $17 is well and truly over the odds.

½ Unit Covert Ops

This is a reasonably small field, but it is still an interesting edition of the Dulcify Quality. Gem Song is clearly the horse to beat, but I can’t get him as short as his current quote. The filly that I am willing to give another chance to is Madam Rouge. She had genuine excuses when she failed to fire in the Tea Rose Stakes and her win before that at Canterbury was excellent. Tommy Berry will be able to settle her just behind the speed and she has the chance to return to winning form.

1 Unit Madam Rouge

The market has zeroed in on Egg Tart and Ace High and they do look like the clear standouts in this field. Egg Tart has improved each time that she has been seen at the races and she finished a gallant third behind Winx and Le Romain in the George Main Stakes. The step-up to 1800 metres is ideal for her and could actually be her best trip. She will get a fair way back from the wide barrier draw, but she has the turn-of-foot to finish over the top of her rivals.

Ace High is the obvious danger and he is building nicely towards a race like the Caulfield Cup, but I’m not sure that he has the turn-of-foot to match Egg Tart over 1800 metres.

4 Units Egg Tart

The Premiere Stakes is a virtual dress rehearsal for The Everest and six of the runners in this field are heading towards the $13 million race. The market can’t split Redzel and Trapeze Artist. Trapeze Artist may have beaten Redzel in the T.J. Smith Stakes in the Autumn, but there is no doubt that Redzel is the more consistent performer. He made a strong returned to the races in the Concorde Stakes and his record over this track and distance is outstanding.

Trapeze Artist raced a touch on the flat side first-up in the Theo Marks Stakes and his second-up record is poor. I think that Gerald Ryan wants to have him at his very best for The Everest and I am happy to take him on in this contest.

3.5 Units Redzel

Miss Fabulass lived up to the hype with her outstanding win in the Tea Rose Stakes and she does look extremely well-placed in the Tea Rose Stakes. She maps to get a dream run just behind the speed with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle and she gives the impression that she will relish the step-up to 1600 metres. I think that she still has more upside than the rest of her rivals and she can record a maiden Group 1 victory.

5 Units Miss Fabulass

Unforgotten, D’argento and Pierata are the three standouts in the Epsom Handicap and I am happy to back both Unforgotten and Pierata at their current prices. Unforgotten returned to the races with a fast-finishing effort behind Winx in the Winx Stakes and she then stamped herself as the horse to beat in the Epsom Handicap with an outstanding win in the Chelmsford Stakes. The fact that she has already had a race start over 1600 metres this campaign is a big advantage and the fact that trainer Chris Waller has kept her on the fresh side is a positive. With even luck in running, she will prove very tough to beat.

Pierata is the main danger. He beat Kementari first-up to win the Missile Stakes and he wasn’t disgraced when he finished second behind Siege Of Quebec in the Bill Ritchie Handicap. Pierata had no luck in running in that contest and he maps to get the run of the race, just behind the speed, in the Epsom Handicap. He has never won over a mile, but the fact that he finished second behind Kementari in the Randwick Guineas suggests that he has no issues running out the trip strongly.

2 Units Unforgotten

1.5 Units Pierata

This is a very open edition of The Metropolitan and I am keen to back a number of horses at double-figure odds. The form of Big Duke has been better than it looks on paper and he found the line nicely after getting a long way back in the Kingston Town Stakes. The step-up in trip to 2400 metres is ideal for him and he wasn’t beaten far in this race last year. His record in Sydney is excellent and the $11 currently available is well and truly over the odds.

Avuray was not beaten far in the Newcastle Gold Cup and he should take good improvement from that performance. 2400 metres is his best trip and he maps to get a lovely run in transit from barrier two. There is no way that he should be $20.

The x-factor in this contest is Wall Of Fire. He hasn’t been seen at the races since he failed to fire in the Melbourne Cup, but his best form from the United Kingdom would have him right in this race, while his run in the Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes last year was excellent.

1 Unit Big Duke

1 Unit Wall Of Fire

½ Unit Auvray

I am happy to oppose Coruscate in the Snitzel Sprint and both Right Or Wrong and Maximus appeals at their current odds. Right Or Wrong has improved each time that he has been seen at the races this campaign after what was a lengthy stint in the spelling paddock. He chased home Trekking last start and that is fairly strong form for this contest.

Maximus was only narrowly denied by Soothing last start and he should take good benefit from that performance. He is a consistent performer and he is a safe bet to be in the finish once again, especially with a nice trial into the race.

1 Unit Right Or Wrong

1 Unit Maximus