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2017 Epsom Handicap: Race History and Background

by Racing & Sports , 6 years ago

3 minute read

Race history and background for the 2017 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday featuring the classy Happy Clapper.

The final field and barriers were confirmed for the 2017 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday on Tuesday morning.

The prestigious mile event has attracted a field of 14 with favourite Happy Clapper coming up with barrier 4.

He is currently a $3.00 favourite for the Group 1 feature.

Chris Waller saddles up five runners with Egg Tart the highest in betting, currently second favourite at $5.00.

2017 EPSOM HANDICAP: RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Epsom Handicap is a G1 race run under Handicap conditions for open class horses at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Epsom Handicap is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1865 and was won by Dundee.

For the vast majority of its existence, the Epsom Handicap has been over 1600m. It was run at 1400m in 2001 on the Kensington Track when course proper was under reconstruction.

Except under the Principal Race scale, the Epsom has always been a Group 1.

The 1983 Epsom was run at Warwick Farm won by Cool River.

The Epsom Handicap is named after the racecourse where the Derby is run in England.

Gai Waterhouse has had a great time winning big miles on her home track and the Epsom is no different. Iron Horse, Excellerator, Desert War x 2, Theseo, Rock Kingdom and Fat Al have been her winners.

Super Impose became a legend of the Randwick mile winning four consecutive miles (2x Epsom, 2x Doncaster) ending in the 1991 Epsom under 61kg courtesy of a brilliant Darren Beadman ride.

Winx won her first ever Sydney Group 1 in taking her Epsom out carrying 57kg. It was her fourth win in her long stretch of victories and the lead up to her first Cox Plate.

One of the most famous winners was Shannon. He won in 1945 and then in 1946 under 9 stone 9, Shannon missed the start and did not move until the field travelled some distance. In the end he only just missed Blue Legend into second. It is said the starter failed to notice Shannon was not ready.

While the Doncaster has been dominated by the 3yo brigade, it’s been a complete supremacy by the 4yo army in the Epsom. Of the last 21 runnings, 14 x 4yos have saluted.

Last non-NSW trained horse to win was Golden Sword in 1993 before Captain Sonador in 2010.

Before Winx and Secret Admirer, the previous mare to win the Epsom was as far back as La Neige in 1976.

The 2007 race was not held due to the Equine Influenza break out.

The Epsom Handicap is worth $1million in 2017.

Notable winners of the Epsom Handicap include Hauraki (2016), Winx (2015), Boban (2013), Theseo (2008), Racing To Win (2006), Desert War (2004/2005), Shogun Lodge (2000), Filante (1996), Kinjite (1992), Super Impose (1990/1991), Riverdale (1984), Imposing (1979), Triton (1972), Gunsynd (1971), Cabochon (1967), Sky High (1961), Noholme (1959), Shannon (1945), Chatham (1932/1933) and Amounis (1926/1928).

The 2016 Epsom Handicap was won by Hauraki from Dibayani and Mackintosh.

WHEN IS THE 2017 EPSOM HANDICAP?

WHEN: Saturday, September 30, 2017 @ 4:00pm

WHERE: Randwick Racecourse

16:00

Epsom Hcp (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 48.5kg Type: OPEN

AUD $1,007,000

1600m TURF GOOD

Form Preview

Favourite Happy Clapper was a deserving winner, breaking through for his first win at Group One after four placings at that level previously. He was given a good trip by Blake Shinn, travelling well in third place on the rails behind a good tempo (first 1000m in 58.49). He moved up on turning for home, took the lead at the 300m and then kept fighting back in good style under his top weight (57kg) to score a very good win. Tom Melbourne was slow to move, was last early on before settling in ninth place on the rails. Glen Boss angled him between runners from the 300m, went to second at the 100m and battled on nicely for second, just finding the winner (who conceded him 5kg) too good. Snitzson was sixth on the rails, stuck to the inner at the home turn, went to third at the 200m and then held on to take the minor placing in a photo. Foxplay was eased from her outside barrier (10), raced in last place to the home turn. She went deep at the 300m and kept running on really well for a very good (3.1 lengths) fourth.

Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam

Jockey
Trainer

SP
WT

1st

1. HAPPY CLAPPER (AUS) 7yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - BUSKING (AUS)

BLAKE SHINN
PATRICK WEBSTER

$2.38
57kg

M W Thomas

2nd

9. TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) 6yo G
DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) - ROSHANAK (IRE)

GLEN BOSS
CHRIS WALLER

$8
52kg

O T I Racing (Mgr: T Henderson), Kiwiana, A & Mrs P Goodfellow, D & Mrs D Miller, L Webb, Ms D McKeown, Ms M Webb, W Bowker, J Higgins, Bobbin Along & Uthmeyer Racing

Sales Information
\| Tattersalls \| 2012 October Yearling Sale Book 2 (1000) \| The Castlebridge Consignment \| Vendor \| GNS 5,000		2012 October Yearling Sale Book 2 (1000)	The Castlebridge Consignment	Vendor		GNS 5,000
\| Goffs - IRE \| 2012 February Sale (145) \| Blackcut Stud \| Psd. EUR € 9,500 Res. EUR €		2012 February Sale (145)	Blackcut Stud		Psd. EUR € 9,500

3rd

13. SNITZSON (AUS) 4yo H
SNITZEL (AUS) - SHOCK PAK (AUS)

CORY PARISH
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG

$26
50.5kg

D M & Mrs J Taylor, G R Taylor, Miss T Moonlao, S D Crow, P D Harding, L I Sampson, G E Aitken, P T Heinz, C F Kerr, A C Lloyd & Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd Syndicate (Mgr: N R J Werrett)

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2015 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (181) \| Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone \| Lindsay Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd \| AUD $ 60,000		2015 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (181)	Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone	Lindsay Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd	AUD $ 60,000

4th

2. FOXPLAY (AUS) 4yo M
FOXWEDGE (AUS) - BUTTERS (USA)

HUGH BOWMAN
CHRIS WALLER

$8
54.5kg

Sales Information
\| Magic Millions \| 2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (127) \| Newgate Farm Scone Nsw (As Agent) \| Star Thoroughbreds \| AUD $ 160,000		2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (127)	Newgate Farm Scone Nsw (As Agent)	Star Thoroughbreds	AUD $ 160,000

5th

3. SOUND PROPOSITION (NZ) 6yo G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - EBONY BABE (NZ)

COREY BROWN
KRIS LEES

$12
54kg

6th

11. COMIN' THROUGH (AUS) 4yo G
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - MICA'S PRIDE (AUS)

JOAO MOREIRA
CHRIS WALLER

$5
51kg

Sales Information
\| Tattersalls \| 2020 August Sale (477) \| George Scott Racing \| Gaelic Bloodstock \| GNS 10,000		2020 August Sale (477)	George Scott Racing	Gaelic Bloodstock	GNS 10,000
\| Tattersalls \| 2020 July Sale (360) \| George Scott Racing \| WITHDRAWN		2020 July Sale (360)	George Scott Racing		Withdrawn

7th

6. MCCREERY (GB) 5yo G
BIG BAD BOB (IRE) - DOLMA (FR)

TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER

$26
53kg

Sales Information
\| Tattersalls \| 2015 Autumn Horses in Training Sale (661) \| Beckhampton House Stables (R. Charlton) \| Chris Waller Racing \| GNS 200,000		2015 Autumn Horses in Training Sale (661)	Beckhampton House Stables (R. Charlton)	Chris Waller Racing	GNS 200,000

8th

5. RED EXCITEMENT (AUS) 8yo G
EXCITES (AUS) - RED OBSESSION (AUS)

BRENTON AVDULLA
GERALD RYAN

$17
53.5kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2011 Classic Yearling Sale (188) \| Evergreen Stud Farm, Heatherbrae \| G & V Williams \| AUD $ 32,500		2011 Classic Yearling Sale (188)	Evergreen Stud Farm, Heatherbrae	G & V Williams	AUD $ 32,500

9th

12. SAVILE ROW (NZ) 4yo H
MAKFI (GB) - FLEECE (GB)

JAY FORD
MICHAEL MORONEY

$31
51kg

10th

8. ZANBAGH (AUS) 7yo M
BERNARDINI (USA) - WILD IRIS (AUS)

DAMIAN LANE
JOHN P THOMPSON

$31
53kg

racing

2017 Epsom Handicap: Race History and Background

2017 EPSOM HANDICAP: RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

WHEN IS THE 2017 EPSOM HANDICAP?

Randwick

Saturday, 30th September 2017

Epsom Hcp (G1)

Epsom Hcp (G1)

Form Preview

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