Multiple Group 1 winner Happy Clapper will have to carry the top weight of 59.5kg to victory if he is to score back to back wins in the 2018 Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on September 29.

Happy Clapper, above, has been allocated the top weight or the 2018 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Happy Clapper, above, has been allocated the top weight or the 2018 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Happy Clapper made it two Group 1 Randwick Mile Handicap wins with 57kg with last year’s Epsom Handicap victory as well as a win in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 7, on day one of The Championships.

The eight year old is up 2.5kg on both of those wins but trained Pat Webster said that was what he expected the handicapper to give him.

“I’ve got to admit I thought ‘The Clapper’ would get around 59.5kg,” Webster told The Daily Telegraph.

“He has earned it.”

“But his handicap all depends on what those below him have got and how well they get in at the weights.’’

Webster is still keen to run in the Epsom Handicap with the top weight but has a plan B on the table if circumstances change and will also nominate the stable flag bearer for the Group 2 $500,000 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on the same day.

The Darren Weir trained Humidor has been allocated the second top weight with 59kg, 1kg more than Le Romain (58kg) from the Kris Lees stable.

James Cummings has four Epsom Handicap entrants well up in the weights with Hartnell with 57kg, It’s Somewhat, 56.5kg, Kementari, 55.5kg and Mr Moonlight Magic, 55kg.

The highest weighted Chris Waller trained Epsom Handicap nominations is Comin’ Through with 56.5kg and the Fastnet Rock five year old is number one in the order of entry after gaining exemption from the ballot with his win in the Group 2 $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 1.

The final field for the 2018 Epsom Handicap will be released on Tuesday, September 25.

The Waller trained D’Argento with 53.5kg is the early favourite for the 2018 Epsom Handicap at $6 with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Pierata (54kg) and Unforgotten (52.5kg) at $8.

Early betting for the 2018 Epsom Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 D’Argento, $8 Pierata, Unforgotten, $10 Comin’ Through, Happy Clapper, $12 Grunt, $14 Lanciato, $16 Egg Tart, Hartnell, Humidor, Le Romain, $21 Avilius, Dixie Blossoms, Invincibella, Paret, Tom Melbourne, $226 Arbeitsam, Best Of Days, Champagne Cuddles, Kaonic, Shillelagh, $31 Invictus Prince, Widgee Turf, $34 It’s Somewhat , $41 or better the rest.

Weights for the 2018 Epsom Handicap (1600m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 0x312561x1 COMIN’ THROUGH G 5 Chris Waller 1 56.5kg 112
2 262x1213x7 HAPPY CLAPPER G 8 Patrick Webster 2 59.5kg 118
3 20x4184x81 HUMIDOR (NZ) G 6 Darren Weir 3 59kg 117
4 0x74232x17 LE ROMAIN G 6 Kris Lees 4 58kg 115
5 90x1304x24 HARTNELL (GB) G 8 James Cummings 5 57kg 113
6 0335x695x7 IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) G 8 James Cummings 6 56.5kg 112
7 x11130x242 KEMENTARI H 4 James Cummings 7 55.5kg 110
8 63x27314x0 MR MOONLIGHT MAGIC (GB) H 6 James Cummings 8= 55kg 109
9 3361x8899x SENSE OF OCCASION G 8 Kris Lees 8= 55kg 109
10 x076x462x4 SHILLELAGH (NZ) M 7 Chris Waller 8= 53kg 109
11 143x1636x3 DIXIE BLOSSOMS M 6 Ron Quinton 11= 52.5kg 108
12 0x400521x5 EGG TART M 5 Chris Waller 11= 52.5kg 108
13 20x22525x0 SINGLE GAZE M 6 Chris Waller 11= 52.5kg 108
14 11x0121x61 UNFORGOTTEN M 4 Chris Waller 11= 52.5kg 108
15 7x121122x1 PIERATA H 4 Gregory Hickman 15= 54kg 107
16 5x384850x6 FOXPLAY M 5 Chris Waller 15= 52kg 107
17 41x43215x1 INVINCIBELLA M 5 Chris Waller 15= 52kg 107
18 1x13714x32 D’ARGENTO H 4 Chris Waller 18= 53.5kg 106
19 3x1111x58 GRUNT (NZ) H 4 Mick Price 18= 53.5kg 106
20 100x1x0x85 MUSIC MAGNATE (NZ) G 7 Bjorn Baker 18= 53.5kg 106
21 1x577421x0 DUCA VALENTINOIS (IRE) G 7 James Cummings 21= 53kg 105
22 222x1330x3 CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES M 4 Bjorn Baker 21= 51kg 105
23 122x9131x4 SEDANZER M 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 21= 51kg 105
24 x4205138x4 ARBEITSAM G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 24= 52.5kg 104
25 741x780x00 MIGHTY BOSS H 4 Mick Price 24= 52.5kg 104
26 5×23095611 MISTER SEA WOLF (IRE) G 7 Chris Waller 24= 52.5kg 104
27 x242630x35 PRIZED ICON H 5 Kris Lees 24= 52.5kg 104
28 11x22x0476 RELIGIFY G 8 Chris Waller 24= 52.5kg 104
29 1131271232 WIDGEE TURF G 5 Patrick Payne 24= 52.5kg 104
30 11x3326x11 AVILIUS (GB) G 5 James Cummings 30= 52kg 103
31 1x31117x48 LANCIATO (NZ) G 6 Mark Newnham 30= 52kg 103
32 4270x0172x SOVEREIGN NATION G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 30= 52kg 103
33 90x446x5x1 LA BELLA DIOSA (NZ) M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 30= 50kg 103
34 x533x98x06 DANON LIBERTY (JPN) H 7 Darren Weir 34= 51.5kg 102
35 20x93116x5 LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) G 7 Chris Waller 34= 51.5kg 102
36 30x25828x2 TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) G 8 Chris Waller 34= 51.5kg 102
37 x3613975x5 I AM COLDPLAY (NZ) M 6 Chris Waller 34= 50kg 102
38 1111329×10 DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR G 6 Tony McEvoy 38= 51kg 101
39 821x0918x4 FASTNET TEMPEST (IRE) G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 38= 51kg 101
40 3722x240x9 RED EXCITEMENT G 9 Gerald Ryan 38= 51kg 101
41 2x38x947x0 SATONO RASEN (JPN) H 7 Chris Waller 38= 51kg 101
42 1112x412x2 NOIRE M 5 Chris Waller 38= 50kg 101
43 4x31591x3 SEABROOK (NZ) F 3 Mick Price 38= 48kg 101
44 1x11820x50 CABEZA DE VACA G 7 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 44= 50kg 99
45 2x3620x402 INVICTUS PRINCE (GB) G 6 Matthew Smith 44= 50kg 99
46 412141×213 NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) G 5 Darren Weir 44= 50kg 99
47 x6537513x5 KINGSGUARD (NZ) G 6 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 47= 50kg 98
48 12x1295x27 SIEGE OF QUEBEC H 4 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 47= 50kg 98
49 11x7121x22 I AM SERIOUS M 5 Chris Waller 49= 50kg 97
50 5658221006 JACQUINOT BAY G 11 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 49= 50kg 97
51 1111x31x31 PLEIN CIEL (GER) G 6 Darren Weir 49= 50kg 97
52 025x2347x8 RADIPOLE (IRE) G 6 Michael Moroney 49= 50kg 97
53 720x2220x8 SAMOVARE M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 49= 50kg 97
54 939×700537 TESTASHADOW G 7 Gary Portelli 49= 50kg 97
55 x020540258 RHYTHM TO SPARE (NZ) G 9 Michael Moroney 55= 50kg 96
56 7x77326x97 SEABURGE H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 55= 50kg 96
57 326x2811x3 SAMBRO G 4 Chris Waller 57= 50kg 95
58 x31124x097 SHOW A STAR G 7 Bjorn Baker 57= 50kg 95
59 274340×000 EMBLEY G 7 Bjorn Baker 59= 50kg 94
60 39x15233x6 HOLY SNOW H 4 Grant & Peter Dalziel 59= 50kg 94
61 39x85306x9 PETROLOGY G 7 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 59= 50kg 94
62 13173x5x60 POETIC DREAM (IRE) H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 59= 50kg 94
63 2x8x150x60 SEVENTH UP (NZ) G 8 Shelley Hale 59= 50kg 94
64 413224513x TORGERSEN (NZ) G 6 Chris Waller 59= 50kg 94
65 5525x546x5 NEW TIPPERARY G 6 Joseph Pride 65= 50kg 93
66 22217x11x1 SAVATIANO M 4 James Cummings 65= 50kg 93
67 611450×552 SIR PLUSH (NZ) G 6 Bjorn Baker 65= 50kg 93
68 1x03438x71 BEST OF DAYS (GB) H 5 James Cummings 68 50kg 92
69 11x6260x11 KAONIC (NZ) H 4 Chris Waller 69 50kg 91
70 12235×2 SHUMOOKH M 4 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 70 50kg 90
71 2131222×4 ANOTHER DOLLAR (NZ) M 4 Chris Waller 71= 50kg 89
72 08326×0031 GOODFELLA H 4 Bjorn Baker 71= 50kg 89
73 x336717x63 MURAAQEB H 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 73= 50kg 88
74 7433923×39 NETTOYER M 5 Wendy Roche 73= 50kg 88
75 1x0658x077 SALSONIC G 5 Jason Coyle 73= 50kg 88
76 11x1012x16 DON’T GIVE A DAMN G 5 Danny Williams 76 50kg 86
77 25x2124x60 INSTANT DE REVE (FR) G 6 Chris Waller 77= 50kg 84
78 5x568x3111 PARET G 4 Chris Waller 77= 50kg 84
79 14312533×8 ROMANCER (NZ) G 5 Darren Weir 79 50kg 82
80 14x1143x34 RENEWAL G 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 80 50kg 77
81 520634x31x FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) H 5 Matthew Smith 81= 50kg 76
82 74x612825x TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) G 5 Michael Moroney 81= 50kg 76
83 21219 MASTER ASH C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 81= 48kg 76
84 2x56x430x8 MEROVEE H 4 Chris Waller 84= 50kg 70
85 23x22872x1 PRIMITIVO G 4 John P Thompson 84= 50kg 70
86 1x3431x767 WHOSYOURHOUSEMATE (GB) G 5 Michael Moroney 86= 50kg 67
87 2x3x411x24 FIGHTING HARADA C 3 Mick Price 86= 48kg 67
88 6957×12 TAVISAN (NZ) C 3 Mick Price 86= 48kg 67

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.