Sargent Bullish About Kirramosa’s Epsom Handicap Chances

Kirramosa was included in the 2015 Epsom Handicap field that was released this morning and trainer John Sargent is confident that the talented mare will run well in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Kirramosa has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Epsom Handicap this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Kirramosa has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Epsom Handicap this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) and the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) were both considered options for Kirramosa after she finished a more than credible fifth behind Kermadec in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 19, but Sargent has opted to keep the Alamosa mare fresh for the 2015 Epsom Handicap and he is confident that she will be more than competitive in the $1 million event.

“Blake Shinn galloped her this morning over 1200 and he said that was she was box of birds,” Sargent told Racing Ahead.

“I was debating whether to go to the Craven Plate, but it is a $1 million Group 1 and it is a hard mile here, so it is more like 1800.

“I couldn’t be happier with her and she looks as though she is coming back to her best.

“She will be right in it.

“We know that she can get a strong mile or a strong mile and a half, so it will suit her.

“There is two kilos between top and bottom, but she has been right in the weight-for-age the last two runs and the only horses in front of her are all going to Melbourne.

“The weather has come right and she will be jumping out of her skin by Saturday.

“I am very happy with her.”

Kirramosa was partnered by Kayla Nisbet when she returned to racing with a big weight on her back in the Fairfield RSL Club Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15 and Rory Hutchings took the ride when she finished fifth in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) before Tommy Berry jumped back on board in the George Main Stakes.

Blake Shinn is now set to take the ride on Kirramosa in the Epsom Handicap and Sargent is confident that he will give the five-year-old the perfect ride from barrier ten this weekend.

“He has galloped her and he knows the horse well,” Sargent said.

“He will suit her style of racing because he is quite a quite rider.”

Kirramosa is currently available at 2015 Epsom Handicap odds of $15 with Ladbrokes and she is on the sixth line of betting behind dominant favourite Winx ($3), Bill Ritchie Handicap winner Sadler’s Lake ($8.50), talented mare Lucia Valentina ($9), the consistent Entirely Platinum ($10), last start winner Silverball ($11), Helen Page-trained Rudy ($13) and Sons Of John ($14).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.