Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes has revealed that 2015 Epsom Handicap is one of a number of options for the in-form Entirely Platinum.
Entirely Platinum is still chasing a Group 1 victory after another placing at the highest level in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Entirely Platinum has not recorded a race win for over a year, but he has been the most consistent weight-for-age performer of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival to date after finishing a close second in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 and a tough third in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.
Hawkes told Racing.com that the stable is yet to decide where Entirely Platinum will have his next start, but he said that the six-year-old could head to Sydney for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 or remain in Melbourne for the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 26 or the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
“We don’t know yet,” Hawkes said.
“There are races like the Espom that are there and Underwood’s.
“There are a few different options for him, but he has pulled up good and that is the main thing.
“The Turnbull is there as well and there are plenty of races for Entirely Platinum, it is just a matter of which one we bounce towards.
“No decision has been made yet.”
While Hawkes are unsure where Entirely Platinum will have her next race start, he was thrilled with the performance of the Pentire gelding in the Makybe Diva Stakes and he believes that the six-year-old was extremely unlucky not to have recorded a maiden win at the highest level of racing.
“He was kicking up this morning and he pulled up really good,” Hawkes said.
“It was a first class effort and it was a better effort than when he ran second last start at Caulfield.
“It was just a super effort; he walked out the gates and was second last, had to go up and around the rest of the field and to be beaten a neck or a head, well he just should have won.
“There are probably four or five others that probably should have won the race as well, but he did plenty of work and he was still there at the pointy end of the stick.”
Entirely Platinum is currently available at 2015 Epsom Handicap odds of $26 with Ladbrokes, while Winx ($4) is now a dominant favourite from Kermadec ($9), Pornichet ($10), Royal Descent ($10) and Sweynesse ($11).
