Track specialist Epic has drawn the rails in the Listed $100,000 Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) on Saturday and gets his chance to add to his impressive Doomben record.
Track specialist Epic has drawn the rails in the Tattersall’s Mile at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Kelly Schweida trained Epic is a six times Doomben winner with five wins over the same course and distance as the Tattersall’s Mile.
The seven year old has been in or around the placings at his last six starts but has been out of the winner’s stall since winning a 1650m Doomben Handicap on September 14 last year.
While Schweida has been happy with Epic’s overall form, he did say that he was slightly disappointed with his last start sixth in the $65,000 Troy Trevitt Homees Handicap (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 4.
“In his thirty-eight starts he has put in only two poor runs and one of those was at his last start at the Sunshine Coast,” Schweida said.
“The track was sticky and that didn’t seem to suit him. He couldn’t pick up and sprint with the others. It was most unlike him and I think Doomben will suit him better.”
“He has a 50 per cent place strike rate and a 23 per cent win strike rate but Epic has a swag of races where he has been in the fourth to fifth placings after having no luck.”
The injury plagued Epic had has several long stints on the sidelines and Schweida said that he was lucky to be at the races after suffering from a bowed tendon early in his career and deserved all the spoils he can claim.
“He has been stakes-placed three times but he deserves to be a black type winner,” Schweida said.
“He isn’t getting any younger and while he will race on after Saturday it is getting close to his last chance to win one.”
Epic will have a change of rider with Tegan Harrison having her first ride on the tough gelding, taking over from Glen Colless.
Epic will be up against Trakstar and Little Brown Horse again after the pair finished first and second at the Sunshine Coast.
The Tony Gollan trainer Trakstar has drawn one from the outside at eleven in the twelve horse Tattersall’s Mile field with Jim Byrne back on board replacing Timothy Bell.
Little Brown Horse has fared better in the barrier draw and will jump from gate four with Geoffery Goold in the saddle.
Brisbane Cup winner Jetset Lad will be trying to make it back to back wins in the Tattersall’s Mile and has drawn near the inside at two with Paul Hammersley back in the saddle after Chris Whiteley had the mount when the Brian Smith trained gelding ran fifth in the Listed $100,000 Southbank Insurance Brokers Handicap (1800m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.
But Hammersley had the reins when Jetset Lad scored a narrow win in the Group 2 $300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben on June 6 at his previous start.
Leading trainer Tony Gollan will also saddle up Tornado Miss who is coming off a sixth in the Southbank Insurance Brokers Handicap.
The Snitzel mare will have Timothy Bell in control and will have no trouble taking up a position in or near the lead from barrier six.
