Epsom Handicap conditions to suit Red Colossus

Trainer Greg Eurell believes the handicap conditions of this Saturday’s Epsom Handicap will suit Red Colossus perfectly.

The five-year-old gelding has performed consistently under weight-for-age conditions over his past two starts this campaign and will welcome the reduction in weights that will come along with the Epsom’s handicap conditions.

“The Handicap conditions makes it [the Epsom] very, very entertaining for us with this horse especially with what he got in with at the weights,” Eurell said.

Red Colossus has been allocated just 52 kilograms for the race, a weight that is seven kilograms lighter than the 59 kilograms he carried in his last two runs.

“He is a big strong racehorse and I’m sure he will run the mile very strongly,” Eurell said.

“I believe that is his best distance and I’m sure he will appreciate the weight drop.”

The trainer believes Red Colossus is underrated going into Saturday’s Epsom.

“He is one of those horses where you wouldn’t be surprised if he came out and won it,” Eurell said.

“He ticks all of the boxes in regards to being worthy of being there and being competitive.

“His first up run was terrific in the Memsie and the Dato (Tan Chin Nam) was a bit of a muddling run race.”

Until now, the Testa Rossa gelding has only raced in Melbourne and will have to learn to cope with the Sydney way of going in the race.

“It is his first time the Sydney way of going so I suppose there will be a bit of a question mark,” Eurell said.

“I think the big track at Randwick there should help.

“Twice a week we have the opportunity of going the reverse way at our training centre and that has been normal practice with him on Wednesday and Friday.

“It is not fast work but it still gives him the opportunity to use that leg and go that way.

“He has had a couple of blowouts that way on the grass here under a bit of pressure and at this stage seems to be handling it well.”

Eurell is not concerned over the forecast for more rain at Randwick over coming days.

“He is quite versatile. He can race to his best on both soft and firm going,” he said.

“We’re not going to be inconvenienced if the weather does turn a bit.”

While Eurell’s other runner, Pinker Pinker, is more favoured in the Epsom markets, the trainer is confident that many racegoers will be shocked to see the condition of Red Colossus this Saturday.

“He is probably 17 hands high and weightwise, when you look at him, Apache Cat was 540kg and he probably weighs in at 560kg,” Eurell said.

“He will probably turn a few heads in the mounting yard.

“He is in good order and always tries this horse.

“We’ve got no doubts about him travelling, as long as he has food there as soon as he walks off the truck that is all he is worried about.”