The Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper heads up the final field of fourteen in the Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Happy Clapper, above, will carry the top weight in the 2017 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Happy Clapper, above, will carry the top weight in the 2017 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Happy Clapper will carry the top weight of 57kg and has been installed the favourite for the Epsom Handicap following his two excellent runs back from a spell.

The evergreen seven year old scored first up from Tom Melbourne in the Group 2 $200,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 2 and then ran a brave second to Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick two weeks later.

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller will saddle up five runners in the Epsom Handicap, Foxplay, McCreery, Tom Melbourne, Egg Tart and Comin’ Through.

Trainer Gerald Ryan didn’t accept with Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist and last Saturday’s Shannon Stakes winner Washington Heights will also stay at home but the stable will still have Red Excitement going around in the time honoured Epsom Handicap over the famous Randwick Mile.

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will saddle up Sound Proposition while the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have accepted with He’s Our Rokkii and Snitzson.

Final Field for 2017 Epsom Handicap (1600m)

1 Happy Clapper (4), 2 Foxplay (14), 3 Sound Proposition (10), 4 He’s Our Rokkii (5), 5 Red Excitement (3), 6 McCreery (7), 7 I Am A Star (2), 8 Zanbagh (9), 9 Tom Melbourne (13), 10 Egg Tart (1), 11 Comin’ Through (12), 12 Saville Row (8), 13 Snitzson (6), 14 Embley (11).

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.