Multiple Group 1 winner Shoot Out has been allocated the topweight for the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5.
Shoot Out has been allocated topweight for the Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Shoot Out has been given 58kg by the Racing New South Wales Handicapping panel and is one of fifteen horses Waller has nominated the Randwick feature mile out of total of one hundred and four.
This is the same weight that Shoot Out carried in last year’s Epsom and the seven year old has since won the Group 1 $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm and was also placed third to Pierro in the Group 1 $400,000 The Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The premiership winning trainer also has Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls prominent in the weights at 55.5kg and top race mare Red Tracer has received 54kg after finally breaking through for a Group 1 victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Last Saturday’s Rosehill winner Riva De Lago, who received 52.5kg, has also emerged as a legitimate Epsom Handicap chance for Waller after shooting to the top of the order of entry after winning the Group 2 $200,000 Sebring Sprint (1400m), a ballot exempt race.
“He’s is nominated for the Epsom and on the way he raced today he will get a mile, if not he will run a very good race just the same,” Waller said after Saturday’s win.
“He won a Group 2 and deserves a chance at a handicap Group 1.”
Stephen Farley’s two time Group 1 winner Sincero is second topweight with 57kg while multiple New Zealand Group 1 winner Veyron is on 56kg.
Guy Walter’s top mare Streama looks well treated on 53.5kg while stablemate Toydini is on the minimum with 52kg and is equal twenty-sixth in the order of entry but can escape the ballot if he can win the Group 3 $150,000 Summer Bright Lager Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on Wednesday, also a ballot exempt race.
Toydini has been near the top of the Epsom Handicap market order since nominations were released and Walter will get a good idea how he is progressing when he performs at Newcastle.
Gai Waterhouse is striving to win her eighth Epsom Handicap with Carlton House the highest weighted horse from Tulloch Lodge on 54kg.
The Epsom Handicap market order sees Sacred Falls at the top of the betting at $9 with Toydini close by on $9.50 with Her Majesty The Queen’s horse Carlton House also high up at $11.
Streama is next at $12, Shoot Out at $13 and last Saturday’s Rosehill winner Ecuador, from the Waterhouse stable, is marked as $14 chance.
