An undefeated record is on the line, reputations are up for grabs, and three Group 1s are set to light up Royal Randwick this Saturday in one of Australian racing’s most iconic meetings.
Headlining the action is the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, where rising superstar Autumn Glow takes her biggest leap yet. The four-year-old mare, trained by the powerhouse Chris Waller stable, has been flawless in her six career starts, dispatching rivals with a blend of brute strength and effortless class. Now, she stretches to the famous Randwick mile for the first time, looking to stamp her name among racing’s elite in her Group 1 debut. But if she’s to keep that perfect record intact, she’ll have to earn it. Standing in her way? A field stacked with talent, experience and proven Group 1 credentials. Ceolwulf, last year’s Epsom winner, returns to defend his crown, but he’ll carry topweight this time around, making the task that little bit tougher. Pericles, now with Bjorn Baker and sporting the Godolphin blue, made an immediate impact for his new trainer and knows what it takes to compete at the top level. And don’t sleep on Willydoit, the New Zealand Derby hero. With Tommy Berry in the saddle and a prime inside draw in barrier 2 for the Ciaron Maher camp, he brings both class and tactical advantage to the party.
One thing is certain: by Saturday evening, there could be a new headline act in Australian racing.
If the Epsom wasn’t enough, the undercard is just as mouthwatering. The stayers step out in the Group 1 Metropolitan, and again it’s Chris Waller with a strong hand; five of the 18 runners carry his brand. His best shot may be Birdman, who teams up with Kerrin McEvoy, though they’ll need to overcome a wide draw in barrier 17. But keep an eye on Vauban, the former champion European hurdler. Now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the eight-year-old is getting back to his sweet spot distance-wise and looms as a serious danger. And for the fillies, the Group 1 Flight Stakes provides another taste of elite competition. Apocalyptic is the one to beat with two commanding wins this prep sure to have punters excited, and the 1600m looks tailor-made for this rising star from the Freedman yard.
