Te Akau Shark is the wild card and a formidable force in the Epsom Handicap field. With five wins from his eight-race starts, he has a genuine chance of besting his elders if he tries his very best. The full barrier draw does make his task more difficult. He doesn’t have any early speed, and he will be giving his rivals a big start.
Dreamforce: The Epsom Handicap barrier draw was not kind to Dreamforce. He was dominant in the Tramway Stakes first-up, where we saw the Rip Van Winkle gelding, Te Akau Shark finish strongly in second place. Dreamforce has his own successes linedup. He proved his prowess =at the weight-for-age level when he finished second behind Avilius in the George Main Stakes.
Kolding: is another horse who can take on Te Akau Shark and Dreamforce. The Queensland Guineas winner ran all the fastest closing sectionals in the race when he won the Bill Ritchie Handicap. The step-up to the mile is ideal for him and barrier 13 should ensure that he does find clear galloping room late.
Best Of Days: Although he finished third in the Feehan Stakes, he produced a reasonably flat effort in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. This is a step-up in quality which may not be something he can take on in his current form.
Fifty Stars: Given his lackluster performances recently, his form doesn't inspire hope. He would need to go to another level to be a genuine winning chance in this contest.
Gem Song: Third-place winner of the Theo Marks Stakes was a touch disappointing when he was beaten in the Shannon Stakes. The Epsom Handicap is a genuine step-up in quality, and he will need to go to another level to win a maiden Group One even with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.
Unforgotten: After an unexpected defeat in Epsom Handicap12 months ago and she hasn’t really fired since. Her best days may be behind her.
Mr. Marathon Man: He ran fairly in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, but he has been fairly handily beaten in both the Feehan Stakes and the George Main Stakes.
Mantastic: This is a big step-up for Mantastic. The Epsom Handicap does look beyond him.
Rock: Always a favourite with the crowds, the Cameron Handicap winner would need to improve again to be a genuine winning chance.
Archedemus: Gr.3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner goes into the Epsom Handicap on the back of a couple of flat efforts in the Tramway Stakes and the Bill Ritchie Handicap. This will be a tough challenge for him.
Le Juge: has failed to fire in both the Tramway Stakes and the Cameron Handicap. He is not up to winning a race of this quality.
Star Of The Seas: had genuine excuses when he was beaten in the Bill Ritchie Handicap and his run before that in the Tramway Stakes was good. He does get into this contest well in at the weights and he does have the ability on his day.
Cascadian: James Cummings may have timed his campaign to perfection. He ran some of the quickest closing sectionals of the day when he finished fifth in the Show County Quality and he found the line nicely again in the Bill Ritchie Handicap. His best European form was over a mile and that sort of effort would make him tough to beat in this contest. He has to be respected.
NettoyerHer form may not show case her in the best light. Would need to step-up considerably to win the Epsom Handicap.
Kaonic: was touted as an Epsom Handicap contender last Spring, but he hasn’t really lived up to the hype. He returned to the races with a flat effort in the Tramway Stakes before he rattled home nicely in the Cameron Handicap. The Savabeel gelding would need to go to a new career peak to win this contest and that looks unlikely at this stage of his racing career.
The Candy Man: failed to fire in the Cameron Handicap and this is much tougher. This looks beyond him.
Desert Lord: earnt a place in the Epsom Handicap field after he produced a career-best performance in the Bill Ritchie Handicap. I’m still not sure that he is good enough to win a race of this quality, but he can run well.
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