Epsom Handicap

The 2019 Epsom Handicap is a Group 1 race that is held each year in late September/early October at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

Run under handicap conditions, the Epsom Handicap is the premier handicap event of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. Worth $1 million in prize money, the Epsom Handicap is run over a miler’s distance of 1,600 metres. The Epsom Handicap features on the same day as the Group 1 Metropolitan and the Group 1 Flight Stakes for three-year-old fillies.

The first Epsom Handicap took place back in 1863 when it was won by a horse named Dundee. The race was not run in 2007 due to the outbreak of equine influenza throughout Australia. Throughout the Epsom Handicap’s long history, a number of horses have claimed successive race wins. This includes Masquerade (1881-82), Melodrama (1906-07), Chatham (1932-33), Toi Port (1963-64), Super Impose (1990-91) and Desert War (2004-05).

Horses that perform well in the Epsom Handicap often go on to run in races such as the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day later in the month. Other notable winners of the Epsom Handicap include Nightmarch (1929), De La Salle (1948), Noholme (1959), Sky High (1961), Gunsynd (1971), Imposing (1979), Theseo (2008) and the mighty four-time Cox Plate champion mare Winx (2015).

Epsom Handicap Field

The Epsom Handicap has a rather large field, with the race allowing a maximum of 20 runners to compete plus emergencies. The field is chosen based on a balloting system that assigns a number to each horse that is nominated for the race. The horses with ballot numbers one to 20 will make it into the final field. Ballot numbers are predominantly decided on a horse’s handicap rating. The higher the handicap rating a horse has, the lower the ballot number will be. Handicap rating is decided on things such as prize money won in the past two years and a horse’s performance in recent races. Horses may also gain entry to the Epsom Handicap by winning certain eligible lead-up races that grant them automatic entry into the Epsom Handicap. Horses that win races such as the Tramway Stakes and the Group 1 George Main Stakes are then able to beat the ballot to gain entry into the Epsom Handicap.

The Epsom Handicap field is open to all horse aged three-years-old and upwards and is run under handicap conditions. This means that those horses that are rated the highest will carry the heaviest weight. This is done to ensure that all horses in the field have a close to equal chance of winning. The Epsom Handicap field is always made up of a strong field of milers, who are capable of being competitive at Group 1 level over the 1,600 metre distance.

The 2019 Epsom Handicap field will be published below the week of the race.

2019 Epsom Handicap Nominations

The Epsom Handicap nominations are released at the same time as other major Sydney races the Metropolitan Handicap and the Flight Stakes on a Monday in early September, around a month before race day.

The 2019 Epsom Handicap nominations will be listed below as soon as released by Racing NSW. The Epsom Handicap 2019 nominations attracted 83 runners including veteran nine-year-old Happy Clapper won won the race for the punters in 2017. This year’s early favourite in Epsom Handicap betting post-nominations is Kiwi raider Te Akau Shark.

No. Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 002x7509x9 ALOISIA (NZ) M 5 Anthony Freedman
2 100x1360x6 AMPHITRITE M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
3 x1118118x0 ARCHEDEMUS G 6 Gwenda Markwell 100
4 1121x1x13x AVANTAGE M 4 Jamie Richards 104
5 12x1550x81 BALLER H 4 Anthony Cummings 83
6 3211x5Nx73 BEST OF DAYS (GB) G 6 James Cummings
7 x925245x52 CAPTAIN COOK (GB) G 7 Chris Waller
8 121x128x5 CASCADIAN (GB) G 5 James Cummings 98
9 0x3178447x CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES M 5 Bjorn Baker 107
10 123x70304x CHAPADA G 4 Michael Moroney
11 071516×320 CLIFF’S EDGE H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
12 34449x16x4 CON TE PARTIRO (USA) M 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 102
13 166×222213 CONNEMARA M 5 Bjorn Baker 85
14 13×1 DAWN PASSAGE C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 79
15 2257323×34 DEALMAKER G 4 Chris Waller 84
16 5x4131x1x4 DESERT LORD G 5 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 82
17 621x8132x1 DREAMFORCE G 7 John Thompson 113
18 612x4350x4 DYSLEXIC M 5 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 97
19 1500036133 ECKSTEIN M 6 Chris Waller 107
20 x3033x432x EL DORADO DREAMING M 4 Kris Lees 103
21 33x09311x8 FASTNET TEMPEST (IRE) G 7 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
22 8321x6720x FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) H 6 Matthew Smith
23 1x60110x67 FIFTY STARS (IRE) H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
24 x432200x39 FUNDAMENTALIST M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
25 12x154134x GEM SONG H 4 Kris Lees 100
26 440x13370x GOATHLAND (IRE) G 8 Kim Waugh 90
27 38487x86x8 GOOD ’N’ FAST G 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 80
28 x75x2284x2 HAPPY CLAPPER G 9 Patrick Webster 117
29 0x53233x34 HARTNELL (GB) G 9 James Cummings
30 322x11x HURRICANE FIGHTER (NZ) G 4 Michael Moroney
31 x73810x237 INVINCIBLE GEM M 6 Kris Lees 108
32 267×252313 JUNIPAL H 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 81
33 73×1 JUST THINKIN’ G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 65
34 441x5496x0 KAONIC (NZ) G 5 Chris Waller 97
35 1x43236Px5 KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 106
36 12331111×5 KOLDING (NZ) G 4 Chris Waller 100
37 11311113×0 LE JUGE (IRE) G 7 Chris Waller 101
38 233x8124x0 LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) G 8 Chris Waller 109
39 8363216×65 LONG LEAF H 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
40 3237×41211 LOOKS LIKE ELVIS G 5 Bryan Dais
41 x041650x62 MAHAMEDEIS G 5 Nick Ryan
42 5x812511x8 MANTASTIC (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 103
43 32x6900x60 MATERIAL MAN G 8 Pat Carey
44 115508x0x8 MICKEY BLUE EYES G 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
45 160x11412x MIRETTE M 4 Archie Alexander
46 050x1200x6 MISTER SEA WOLF (IRE) G 8 Chris Waller 107
47 152x231x20 MISTER SONGMAN G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 84
48 1x2x041050 MR MARATHON MAN (GB) G 6 Michael Moroney
49 11x112131x MR QUICKIE G 4 Phillip Stokes
50 5003x00x97 MURAAQEB H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 92
51 10x58158x8 NETTOYER M 6 Wendy Roche 96
52 60x34000x5 NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) G 6 Chris Waller
53 7x6073447x NOIRE M 6 Chris Waller 104
54 4130x08x77 OOHOOD M 4 Tony & Calvin McEvoy
55 141x1417x9 PENSKE G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 90
56 1x3516832x POHUTUKAWA M 4 James Cummings
57 0x2490431x PURPLE SECTOR (NZ) H 4 John Thompson 86
58 25x14941x2 QAFILA M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
59 311x34017x REDOUBLE G 6 Bjorn Baker 102
60 2x2128x11 ROCK G 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 79
61 535×512421 ROMANCER (NZ) G 6 Grahame Begg
62 192251557x ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) G 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
63 1241915×11 SAMADOUBT G 6 Bjorn Baker 112
64 767x740x40 SEABURGE G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
65 54x17x1630 SESAR H 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
66 20×7 SHOTMAKER C 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
67 5x42170x46 SIKANDARABAD (IRE) G 7 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
68 1292450×12 SO SI BON G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
69 814×211234 SO YOU WIN G 5 Chris Waller 93
70 200x2196x2 SPANISH WHISPER M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
71 22113211×4 STAR OF THE SEAS (NZ) G 5 Chris Waller 99
72 1514x6770x TALLY G 7 James Cummings
73 114x111x22 TE AKAU SHARK (NZ) G 5 Jamie Richards 108
74 1x111110x6 THE CANDY MAN G 6 Barry Baldwin
75 2152×41 TOFANE (NZ) M 4 Michael Moroney
76 x16932225x TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) G 9 Chris Waller 104
77 241x994x00 TRIBAL WISDOM G 6 Michael Moroney
78 8x53403x60 UNFORGOTTEN M 5 Chris Waller 105
79 157x2111x9 VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) M 4 Chris Waller 106
80 4x33x2x6x6 WREN’S DAY (USA) H 6 James Cummings 98
81 276x059x87 YOUNGSTAR M 5 Chris Waller 107
82 123111x YOURDEEL (NZ) G 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
83 2221x00x79 YULONG PRINCE (SAF) H 5 Chris Waller 104

Epsom Handicap Form Guide

The Epsom Handicap is often used as a form guide for the remainder of the spring carnival. Horses that perform well in the Epsom Handicap are usually expected to be competitive in races such as the Caulfield Guineas for three-year-olds, Toorak Handicap, Thousand Guineas for three-year-old fillies, Seymour Cup, Crystal Mile, Myer Classic for fillies and mares, Inglis Miles for mares aged four-years-old and upwards, Hawkesbury Gold Cup and the Caulfield Guineas.

When trying to pick a winner in the Epsom Handicap, races such as the Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes, Tramway Stakes, George Main Stakes, Tea Rose Stakes, Stutt Stakes, Shannon Stakes, Stan Fox Stakes and Edward Manifold Stakes are good form guides to follow.

Epsom Handicap Betting

The Epsom Handicap is known for offering quality odds on most of the field. This is due to the fact that most of the horses have won stakes races in the past and are extremely talented. Therefore, it is always hard to choose which horse will win, particularly under handicap conditions, where it is the handicapper’s job to try and ensure that all horses have an equal chance of winning. So for people who are confident that a particular horse will win, there is an opportunity to make big dividends. It goes without saying that Melbourne Cup bets and odds are sought after weeks in advance of the final field being announced too.

People may choose to place bets such as a straight forward win or place bet on the Epsom Handicap. A roughie that manages to place in the Epsom Handicap can pay very healthy odds for finishing in the top three. The usual quinella, exacta, trifecta, mystery trifecta and quadrella bets are also popular on the Epsom Handicap.

As with all the main spring carnival feature races, it is common for people to place a double bet on the Epsom Handicap. Bets such as the George Main Stakes/ Epsom Handicap double, Manikato Stakes/ Epsom Handicap double, Epsom Handicap/ Caulfield Guineas double, Epsom Handicap/ Thousand Guineas double, Epsom Handicap/ Caulfield Cup double, Epsom Handicap/ Cox Plate double, Epsom Handicap/ Victoria Derby double, Epsom Handicap/ Melbourne Cup double, Epsom Handicap/ Crown Oaks double and Epsom Handicap/ Emirates Stakes double are widely popular.

Epsom Handicap Odds

Epsom Handicap odds are first released when nominations are announced approximately one month before the race is run. There can be up to 100 horses nominated for the Epsom Handicap and odds are available on all horses at good odds. However, should a nominated horse not make the final field, or choose not to run, then all stakes placed on that horses will be lost. Horses that are high up in the ballot order are usually offered at lower odds than those that do not look like they will make it into the final field.

Odds are re-released when the final field and barrier draw comes out closer to the race date. This has a big impact on the odds, with horses traditionally having a higher winning chance from one of the inside gates. It is easy for a runner to be caught wide after jumping from a wide barrier, or alternatively they may have to use up a lot of early energy to get across to the inside of the track. Any horses that are caught wide will be caught running a longer race than the rest of the field, causing them to often run out of steam before they can make their final sprint. Therefore, odds are usually shorter for horses with good barriers.

Epsom Handicap Tips

People choose to formulate their own Epsom Handicap tips by weighing up a variety of different factors. Firstly, there is the barrier draw. As previously mentioned, horses with a good inside draw are usually favourable to those who have to work hard early from the outside. A lot of people’s Epsom Handicap tips are dictated by the state of the track. If the track is wet then it is likely that people will turn to proven wet-track runners to feature heavily in their tips for the race.

Also, certain horses may have a very good second-up record. If this is the case and they are currently running in their second race of the preparation, people may tip them as likely winners. This also goes for horses that never seem to win their first start following a spell. These horses would not be likely tips if they were competing in their first run.

The most common way for people to formulate Epsom Handicap tips is by looking at certain lead-up races. How a horse performed in other handicap 1,600 metre races in the spring is usually a good guide as to how they will perform in the Epsom Handicap.

Epsom Handicap Day

Epsom Handicap Day is held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The day also goes by the name of “Super Saturday”, with plenty of Group status races on the card The Epsom Handicap shares its day with the Group 1 The Metropolitan and Group 1 Flight Stakes as the elite level events.

Epsom Handicap Day is one of the biggest race days in New South Wales and consistently brings tens of thousands of patrons to Randwick Racecourse to watch the races each year.

Epsom Handicap Results

The Epsom Handicap is one of the oldest races in Australia, being first run in 1863 when it was won by Dundee. The youngest jockey to win a race in the Epsom Handicap was Jim McHugh, who won the 1927 race aboard Robin Hood weighing just 27 kilograms and aged just 11 years and 4 months in his second ever race start.

Champion race horses such as Amounis (1926, 28), Nightmarch (1929), Chatham (1932-33), Sky High (1961), Gunsynd (1971), Imposing (1979) and Super Impose (1990-91) have all won the Epsom Handicap. The Epsom Handicap continued to be run during World War 1 and World War 2, however did not take place in 2007 due to Equine Influenza.

Below you will find a list of winners and results for the Epsom Handicap since the year 2000.

Year Results Winning Time
2019 1 TBD 2 TBD 3 TBD TBD
2018 1 Hartnell 2 D’Argento 3 Unforgotten 1:32.73 (R)
2017 1 Happy Clapper 2 Tom Melbourne 3 Snitzon 1:33.1
2015 1 Winx 2 Ecuador 3 Sons Of John 1:34.58
2014 1 He’s Your Man 2 Royal Descent 3 Hooked 1:33.34
2013 1 Boban 2 Streama 3 Toydini 1:34.43
2012 1 Fat Al 2 Ambidexter 3 Rolling Pin 1:34.56
2011 1 Secret Admirer 2 Pinker Pinker 3 Red Tracer 1:35.59
2010 1 Captain Sonador 2 Trusting 3 Sacred Choice 1:34.1
2009 1 Rock Kingdom 2 Rangirangdoo 3 Road To Rock 1:38.6
2008 1 Theseo 2 Bank Robber 3 Gallant Tess 1:36.2
2007 Race Not Run
2006 1 Racing To Win 2 Desert War 3 Malcolm 1:35.1
2005 1 Desert War 2 Johan’s Toy 3 Lotteria 1:34.5
2004 1 Desert War 2 Our Egyptian Raine 3 Tsuimai 1:37.2
2003 1 Clangalang 2 Grand Armee 3 Forum Floozie 1:35.2
2002 1 Excellerator 2 Kingsgate 3 Gordo 1:35.5
2001 1 Final Fantasy 2 Kingsgate 3 Crawl 1:22.5
2000 1 Shogun Lodge 2 Landsighting 3 Chinhoyi 1:33.5

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