Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse dominates the nominations for the Epsom Handicap 2012 which were taken by Racing NSW on Monday with 16 entries as she vies for her seventh victory in the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival feature.

More Joyous is one of 16 Epsom Handicap 2012 nominations for Gai Waterhouse

The headline race at Royal Randwick on Saturday October 6, the $500,000 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) this year attracted 101 nominations, down 20 from last year.

The top rated of Waterhouse’s Epsom bound contingent is eight time Group 1 champion More Joyous.

Winner of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, Doncaster Mile (Waterhouse’s seventh Doncaster triumph) and then the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at her three most recent runs back in April six-year-old More Than Ready mare More Joyous was in career best form during the autumn and connections are hoping that will continue this time in.

If she goes to the Epsom Handicap 2012 it would be the first year she has contested the classic, however she is an unlikely acceptor with More Joyous’ major spring target being the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) three weeks later in Melbourne.

Should More Joyous go on to win the Epsom in a change of plans she would be handing Waterhouse with her seventh victory in the race, her most recent Epsom Handicap winner being Theseo (2008), which would see her equal the record of her late father TJ Smith.

Among Waterhouse’s other more notable 2012 Epsom Handicap nominees are recent acquisition Rock ‘N’ Pop who ran second in the NZ Derby, consistent Al Maher four-year-old Fat Al who has won their four most recent runs, and Herculian Prince who won the Metropolitan Handicap on Epsom Handicap Day back in 2010.

Reigning Epsom Handicap winner Secret Admirer has been nominated to defend her title this spring, Grahame Begg’s smart daughter of Dubawi having run top three in four subsequent Group 1’s after her Epsom success last year.

There is no shortage of Group 1 winners among the Epsom Handicap nominations for 2012 with other elite level performers including:

• Mosheen (Robert Smerdon) – Glamour Fastnet Rock mare has won four Group 1 races with the Crown Oaks (2011) and then the Australian Guineas – Randwick Guienas- Vinery Stud Stakes triple during the autumn
• Brambles (Peter Moody) – Moody’s impressive Queensland Derby winner was Caulfield Cup bound but is out with an injury, although unlikely to come back in the spring has been nominated just in case
• Danleigh (Chris Waller) – Veteran nine-year-old won the Chipping Norton Stakes (2011), George Ryder Stakes (2010), Manikato Stakes (2009) and All Aged Stakes (2009) over the years, proved their evergreen status with a first-up third to Pinwheel on August 25 in the Warwick Stakes
• Rangirangdoo (Chris Waller) – Popular eight-year-old last seen running a brave fourth to More Joyous in the Queen Elizabeth, has been plagued by injury setbacks over their career which is highlighted by wins in the George Ryder Stakes (2011) and Doncaster Mile (2010)
• Glass Harmonium (Michael Moroney) – Seven-year-old imported grey has a great record down under including a Group 1 win in the Mackinnon Stakes last Victoria Derby Day
• Yosei (Stuart Webb) – Always honest Invincible Spirit mare is a triple Group 1 winner that failed first-up on a Heavy (10) track in the WW Cockram Stakes, finished a close third to More Joyous before that in the Doncaster Mile

Other interesting entries include Australian Oaks runner-up Aliyana Tilde, Waller’s Randwick Guineas second placed Said Com, last year’s Cox Plate third place-getter Rekindled Interest,  Australian Derby runner-up Polish Knight, and Peter Moody’s spruik four-year-old Moment Of Change who resumed with a good stakes win at Warwick farm on August 25.

There are three other Group 1 races run on Epsom Handicap Day, two of which have also hand nominations taken with the $400,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) drawing 97 entries, and $400,000 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) for three-year-olds attracting 93 nominees.

“The quality is certainly there particularly in the Epsom,” ATC racing manager Colin Tuck said.

“There are the proven topliners combined with the up-and-coming horses so it is already shaping as a very good race.”

Check out the full 2012 Epsom Handicap nominations in the table below, and make sure you bookmark us here at Races.com.au for all the latest updates on the upcoming spring features.

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2012 Epsom Handicap Nominations

Royal Randwick – 06/10/2012