Veyron A Big Epsom Handicap Chance

Consistent jockey Christian Reith believes that New Zealand galloper Veyron is a big chance to record his maiden Group 1 win in Australia in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5.

Veyron

Christian Reith rode Veyron to his first Australian victory in the Warwick Stakes in Sydney on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Reith rode Veyron for the first time when the veteran gelding scored an upset win in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday, replacing regular jockey Rogan Norvall who was unable to take the ride due to problems with his work visa in Australia.

Reith took his chance on the eight-year-old and was happy with the son of Thorne Park’s effort in the final stages of the race after pre-race favourite Rain Affair set a very quick tempo in the early going.

“It was a good tough effort, he is not a bad horse on his day and the race was always going to be set up for a horse coming home,” Reith said on RSN.

“I knew that the pace was always going to be strong and that is how the race read on paper.

“The good thing about him is that you can put him anywhere and he really digs deep if he has too.”

Reith claimed his first Group 1 victory when he partnered Nechita to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival but he is still chasing his first win at racings highest level in Sydney.

Although he is unsure whether he will maintain the ride on Veyron he is confident that the tough gelding has what it takes to be successful in the Epsom Handicap.

“He is a horse that you would definitely consider (for the Epsom Handicap), it just depends on the weight that he gets,” Reith said.

“His form speaks for himself and he has form around some of the best horses in Australia like Pierro.

“He gave me a great feel on Saturday and the further he goes, the better he will go.”

Veyron has been successful at Group 1 level on five occasions in New Zealand and has a stellar record in handicap races run over a mile.

About The Author

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.