2020 Epsom Handicap Day Tips & Preview
Avilius. Photo By Steve Hart.

2020 Epsom Handicap Day Tips & Preview

The Group 1s on the one card? You better believe it!

What a day of racing we have in store at Randwick on Saturday.

We’ve completed our homework and our full 2020 Epsom Handicap Day Tips & Preview can be found below.

 

Race 1: Cleanaway Handicap (1600m) 12:25pm
No. 5 Opacity & No. 7 Pancho

After a very successful and consistent prep last time in the stable chucked this guy in at Group 2 level first up and he was simply not up to it.

His third behind Discharged last start was full of merit and he meets that horse 3kgs better at the weights in this contest.

Pancho is going better than his form reads and he will pop up at some stage. Worth a small each-way play at the big odds.

Race 2: Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) 1:00pm
No. 4 Enthaar

Enthaar toyed with her opponents in her only trial when running the quickest time of the morning.

She won the trial by five lengths with ease and she looks the one to beat in the Gimcrack Stakes.

Race 3: Group 3 Breeders' Plate (1000m) 1:35pm
No. 6 Kalashnikov

Kalashnikov could not have been more impressive when winning by five lengths in his only trial and he was eased down on the line.

The $600,000 colt by Capitalist is a strong looking individual who has been well supported in early betting suggesting he is ready to win on debut.

best bet
Race 4: Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) 2:10pm
No. 3 Avilius

Avilius came from the tail of the field to finish fourth first up in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes before putting in a flat effort last start in the George Main.

He was in a bumping duel with Colette at the 300m mark in that race and he never fully let down. He can be forgiven for that effort.

His record over the 2000m at Randwick is very good ahead of the 2020 Hill Stakes and he is more than capable of producing a high rating performance on his day.

Race 5: Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) 2:45pm
No. 1 Dame Giselle

Dame Giselle has now won five of her eight career race starts including all three of her starts this prep.

The daughter of I Am Invincible is a really well balanced horse who seems to go from strength to strength as she matures.

She has beaten home Hungry Heart at her past two outings and I while the market suggests the tables will be turned over the 1600m of the Flight Stakes, I don’t.

Race 6: Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) 3:25pm
Trifecta 1/2,3,4/2,3,4

Nature Strip just wins the Group 2 Premiere Stakes on his way through to The Everest.

He was put under too much pressure in front first up and simply ran into a horse that flies first up in Gytrash.

He is a horse that needs to roll along in front with no pressure and I think he gets that here.

There is not a lot of value for the champion sprinter so I’ve boxed up Classique Legend, Deprive and Standout for the minor placings in a trifecta.

each way
Race 7: Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) 4:05pm
No. 6 Brandenburg & No. 21 Just Thinkin' (emergency)

Love me a progressive type of horse who gets in well at the weights in the Epsom Handicap and both my tips fit that model.

Brandenburg has just the two wins to his name from 14 career starts but he has been very consistent at a high level throughout his short racing career.

He was not beaten far behind Probabeel at Group 3 level last start and he meets that horse better at the weights and should get a nice run in transit from barrier 3 with Jason Collett steering.

Just Thinkin’ is the first emergency for the race but if he gains a start, I think he can run a race at a big price.

He was doing his best work late in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and he has just the 50kg to carry.

 

 

each way
Race 8: Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) 4:45pm
No. 18 Zebrowski

I’ve been with Zebrowski all the way through his prep and he has been racing like a horse that wanted the extra distance.

Well he gets it here.

His one go over the 2400m was in the ATC Derby when he was narrowly denied and it is hard to ignore that he will only be required to carry 50kg in this race.

That is a massive five kilogram drop in weight from his last start where he was beaten just 1.7 lengths behind Taikomochi in the Group 3 Kingston Town.

Mugatoo is a serious horse that is in form but at the weights, and the price, I have to be with Zebrowski.

each way
Race 9: Cerrone Handicap (1200m) 5:20pm
No. 8 Burning Crown

The two Godolphin horses will be tough to beat in the last race of the day but Burning Crown represents good each way value.

He was very well backed first up at Newcastle but he found Akasaki a little slick for him over the 900m.

Hopefully he can finish our day on a good note!