Winx Draws Wide At Epsom Handicap Barrier Draw

The 2015 Epsom Handicap barrier draw has been conducted and clear favourite Winx is set to jump from towards the outside of the field after being allocated barrier 13.

Hooked was one of the big winners of the 2015 Epsom Handicap that was was held this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart

Hooked was one of the big winners of the 2015 Epsom Handicap that was was held this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart

Winx finished her 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign with a dominant victory in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30 and she stamped herself as a clear favourite in Epsom Handicap betting after she stormed home from the tail of the field in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.

Jockey James McDonald elected to settle Winx towards the tail of the field in the Theo Marks Stakes and Hugh Bowman will likely be forced to employ similar tactics on the daughter of Street Cry in the Epsom Handicap this weekend.

One of the big losers from the 2015 Epsom Handicap barrier draw was Team Hawkes-trained Entirely Platinum, who drew barrier 14 this morning.

Entirely Platinum took up the running when he finished in the placings in both the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), but he will be forced to cross the entire field to lead in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday.

Theo Marks Stakes runner-up Sons Of John was allocated the outside Epsom Handicap barrier, while Godolphin-owned Sweynesse (barrier 11), talented mare Kirramosa (barrier 10) and Mick Price-trained Pressing (barrier 12) are also set to start from the second half of the field.

One of the big winners of the 2015 Epsom Handicap barrier draw was Hooked and jockey Tye Angland will have plenty of options when the five-year-old jumps from barrier two this weekend.

Hooked led from start to finish when he took out the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 5, but he finished at the tail of the field in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at the same venue on September 19.

Zac Purton will return to Australia to ride Lucia Valentina in the 2015 Epsom Handicap and he is another jockey that will have plenty of options when the daughter of Savabeel jumps from barrier four.

Lucia Valentina hit the line extremely strongly against the pattern of the day when she finished fifth in the Tramway Stakes and she was only beaten two and a half lengths by Kermadec, Royal Descent and Pornichet in the George Main Stakes.

Other key Epsom Handicap barrier draws include Messene (barrier eight), Rudy (barrier nine), Silverball (barrier five), Ecuador (barrier seven), Sadler’s Lake (barrier three), Malice (barrier one) and Teronado (barrier six).

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.