A strong field of 17 has assembled for Saturday’s $1 million Epsom Handicap over the mile at Royal Randwick.
Not surprisingly, four-time Epsom winner Chris Waller has a strong hand in the race with proven wet-tracker Star of the Seas and dual Group 1 winner Hungry Heart both rating as top chances.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, meanwhile, will saddle the favourite Riodini, who comes in off a last-start second to Verry Elleegant in the George Main Stakes.
The Epsom is one of the most highly-anticipated races each Spring Carnival, and you can find our thoughts on every runner in our Preview below!
Mo’unga
Mo’unga is twice placed over the Randwick mile, most recently to Incentivise in the Makybe Diva Stakes a fortnight ago.
The dual Group 1 winner strips fitter for two runs back and also won the Rosehill Guineas third-up from a spell during the autumn.
Tommy Berry has work to do from the wide gate, but the fact Mo’unga handles all going makes him one of the top chances.
Cascadian
Cascadian has raced well without winning this time in work, finishing fifth in both the Winx Stakes and the George Main Stakes over the Randwick mile.
The Godolphin galloper was trapped wide after missing the start last time out, but still made up good ground in the late stages to finish only three lengths off Verry Elleegant.
Barrier 12 isn’t ideal, but the seven-year-old is a definite each-way chance after winning the Doncaster over the track and distance earlier in the year.
Dalasan
Dalasan found the money third-up in the Doncaster Mile and is worth forgiving on two disappointing runs since resuming.
He tends to take a few runs to warm up, while his soft track form makes for good reading.
Star of the Seas
Star of the Seas faded in the finish last time out in the George Main Stakes but does warrant monitoring with some strong wet-track form lines to his name.
He’s three times placed at Group 1 level and has also done some of his best work over the mile.
Lion’s Roar
Lion’s Roar is back from a freshen-up following a pair of disappointing performances in the Tramway and the George Main.
John O’Shea’s four-year-old won the Randwick Guineas over the mile during the autumn but needs to improve on recent performances to be a factor here.
Hungry Heart
Hungry Heart did plenty of work late last time out in the George Main to finish 2.5L fourth to Verry Elleegant.
The Frankel mare showed a real turn of foot to cut through the soft conditions and she’ll need to produce the same on another wet track.
The four-year-old won third-up last prep and is one of the major players dropping in weight.
Icebath
Icebath has been ultra-consistent of late finishing no worse than fifth in her last eight starts.
She was pipped right on the line by Cascadian in the Doncaster Mile after making up big ground coming out of the turn and will likely race to a similar pattern after drawing wide.
The mare by Sacred Falls loves racing on wet tracks and looks capable of sneaking a place.
Rock
Rock was no match last time out in a Group 3 race at Newcastle and will only find this tougher.
Riodini
Riodini has returned a place in his last two starts and was very impressive in his last start second to Verry Elleegant in the George Main.
The son of Proisir led for most of the way before fading to the mighty mare, a run he is sure to improve on with some weight off his back.
He’s another one that appreciates some sting out of the track, and he’ll likely take some catching again if Rachel King can offset the wide draw early.
Aramayo
Aramayo has found the placings in two starts since resuming and appears ready for the step up to the mile now.
The Chris Waller-trained six-year-old found another gear down the straight to finish in the Bill Ritchie Quality and is also a four-time winner over 1600m.
He’s rock-hard fit for two runs back and looks ready for a return to Group 1 level for the first time in over a year.
Reloaded
Reloaded has shown plenty of promise at this level previously, running fourth in the Randwick Guineas and third in the Rosehill Guineas over the autumn.
He’s returned some encouraging results in easier company this time in but would need to improve significantly to trouble some of these.
Private Eye
Private Eye won the Queensland Guineas with plenty in hand at Eagle Farm during the winter and has since returned with a win in the Group 3 Show County Stakes.
This is his first look at the elite level, and he does look capable of running a race with a pair of wins to his name on both soft and heavy going.
Atishu
Atishu has won two-from-three starts since journeying to Australia, albeit it against much easier opposition.
His wet track form suggests he can run well, but this is still a big rise in class.
Discharged
Discharged put in a big effort last week at Rosehill where he led for most of the way in the Shannon Stakes before being gunned down right on the line by Yonkers.
The son of Snitzel won on the Kensington track on the short backup earlier in the year, and the way he finished through the line last week suggests he’s looking for the mile now.
Ashman
Ashman was a narrow winner of the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle last start and is stepping up sharply in class.
Harmony Rose
Harmony Rose has held her own at this level in the past, most notably finishing a narrow runner-up to Hungry Heart in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
She struggled to find running room first-up in the Bill Ritchie Quality and has her work cut out again from the horror gate.
Sky Lab
Sky Lab won a Benchmark 78 over the track and distance earlier in the year and was far from disgraced when second to Mo’unga in the Rosehill Guineas two starts later.
He showed real improvement for second two weeks ago in the Cameron Handicap and is worth including in exotics from the soft draw.