It’s Epsom Handicap Day at Epsom at the Wizard of Odds previews his best bets and favourite horses from a fantastic day at the Royal Randwick Racecourse.
Randwick Race 2
#4 Drisana
An impeccably bred two-year-old filly by champion juvenile sprinter Merchant Navy.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained galloper showed great talent at her only trial leading into this debut run.
She was snicked to settle in the rear of a small trial field over 855 metres and travelled sweetly throughout the run with no issues being restrained.
She came back under Kerrin McEvoy nicely to conserve her energy and when he asked for an effort she let rip with a very stylish finishing burst to win the trial.
To the eye, a lot of people would want to see horses win their trials without much of an effort, but the Snowdens are masters at saving the best for race day.
Suggested Bet: Drisana each-way at $6.5 the win and $1.95 the place
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 2, 4, 7
randwick Race 7
#5 Startantes
Comes out of a brutally run Golden Rose that is going to have her peaking for this rise to the mile.
She finished sixth in that Group 1 over 1400 metres and races on the week back-up which is a sign she is flying and in peak physical nick.
Barrier six will work in her favour and will allow her to find a run right up on the lead speed with some cover.
If she can produce what she did in the Golden Rose then she is clearly the one to be with in this event.
Senior hoop Sam Clipperton takes, and he will ensure she gets every possible chance to have an economical run-in-transit.
Suggested Bet: Startantes win at $3.9
Suggested Exotic: Boxed First Four – 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5
randwick race 8
#10 Aramayo
A big drop in the weights has Aramayo in this race up to his eyeballs despite being double-figure odds.
He carried 58.5kgs in the Bill Ritchie handicap last start was asked to settle last from a wide gate.
He was given no mathematical chance of winning with the way race panned out, but his surging run to make up ground will have him ready to peak.
Star New Zealand hoop Alysha Collett takes the ride with the 51.5kgs and can position this horse much closer in the run than last start.
Suggested Bet: Aramayo each-way at $12 the win and $3.4 the place.
randwick race 9
#20 Zeyrek
Gets a run thanks to a few scratchings.
Had had two nice conditioning runs so far this preparation to get him ready for this tilt at Group 1 fame over 2400 metres.
The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained gelding will lap up the 2400 metres and he gets in with the bottom weight of only 50gs.
That is going to prove such a pivotal weight advantage over his rivals, especially at 2000 metres at beyond when the going gets tough late in the race.
Barrier three should see this Sea The Stars-bred staying prospect gets the perfect run the likes of Entente and then peeling out at the top of straight to let down with his winning effort.
Suggested Bet: Zeyrek each-way at $7 the win and $2.5 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 14 & 20
