Chris Waller’s dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls has been allocated the 59kg top weight for next month’s Epsom Handicap 2014, weights for the Royal Randwick feature announced by Racing NSW today.
Sacred Falls is the 59kg top weight for the 2014 Epsom Handicap this spring. Photo: Steve Hart.
There are officially 85 horses nominated for this year’s $500,000 Group 1 THE STAR Epsom Handicap (1600m), the 149th running of the race scheduled as one of two elite level features on October 4 in Sydney.
Heading the handicaps for the mile showdown is O’Reilly five-year-old Sacred Falls, a dual nominee for this weekend in the mix for both the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) over the Epsom Handicap track and distance as well as Melbourne’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
Sacred Falls was eighth behind stablemate Boban in last year’s Epsom Handicap result carrying 56.5kg but has since won a second Doncaster Mile earning a notable rise in weights.
Boban, a $15 chance through Ladbrokes to win again this spring, meanwhile has been allocated the equal 58kg second top weight which is a full five kilos more than his weight last year.
Since the 2013 Epsom however Boban has won two other Group 1 races (Emirates Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes), the now five-year-old last seen running fifth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last Saturday.
Waller has a host of Epsom Handicap chances as he shoots for back-to-back wins this year including also Hawkspur (56.5kg) who is equal $11 fancy in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au after the Purrealist gelding won the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) defeating five of his stable mates last time out.
Futures Epsom Handicap betting at Ladbrokes has six hopefuls sitting top of the markets at that quote including also Waller’s Doncaster Mile runner-up Royal Descent (55.5kg) who ran second in the Chelmsford.
With her 55.5kg Royal Descent is the heaviest-weighted mare this year and is a former winner of the ATC Oaks and was also runner-up under weight-for-age in the George Main Stakes last year.
Sacred Falls meanwhile is further down the markets at $17 along with Waller’s Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) winner from last Saturday He’s Your Man allocated 52.5kg for the Epsom.
Waller’s Notable Epsom Handicap Hopes & Weights
- Sacred Falls (59kg) – Top weight who ran eighth last year but who has won two Doncaster Miles and is in top form this season
- Boban (58kg) – Last year’s winner had five kilos less to win but has won two subsequent Group 1 races so deserves the extra kilos
- Hawkspur (56.5kg) – Former Queensland Derby winner is the shortest priced of Waller’s Epsom hopes as $11 equal favourite after a Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes win at the track on September 6
- Royal Descent (55.5kg) – Runner-up in the Doncaster Mile to Sacred Falls in the autumn and second also to stable mate Hawkspur last time out in the Chelmsford
- Bull Point (52kg) – Well fancied in the markets paying $13 after a Theo Marks Stakes second on the weekend but not yet assured of a start sitting well down the Epsom Handicap ballot in equal 36th spot
Along with Royal Descent and Hawkspur for Waller, the other top fancies in the latest Epsom Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are Chautaqua (52.5kg), Dissident (58kg), Lucia Valentina (53kg) and Toydini (55.5kg).
Weights for Top Epsom Handicap Fancies
- Dissident (58kg) – Peter Moody’s triple Group 1 winning four-year-old who has won the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes double at his last two starts this time in against top company
- Toydini (55.5kg) – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Beranrdini gelding ran a first-up third in the Tramway and is well liked for a big spring
- Lucia Valentina (53kg) – Group 2 Tramway Stakes winner first-up at Randwick, Kris Lees’ Savabeel mare is also a Group 1 winner in the Vinery Stud Stakes in Sydney last season and Group 1 placed in the ATC Oaks behind Rising Romance
- Chautaqua (52.5kg) – Another Team Hawkes entry this Encosta De Lago four-year-old is being kept safe in betting after winning the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality on the weekend over Temple jOf Boom but is far from assured of a start with the light weight
See below for the full Epsom Handicap 2014 weights then head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the top prices on all your early favourites!
2014 Epsom Handicap Weights & Ballot
Royal Randwick – 04/10/2014
| # | Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCIA VALENTINA (NZ) | Kris Lees | 1= | 53kg | 108 |
| 2 | CLUSTER | Peter & Paul Snowden | 1= | 52kg | 101 |
| 3 | SACRED FALLS (NZ) | Chris Waller | 3 | 59kg | 116 |
| 4 | BOBAN | Chris Waller | 4= | 58kg | 114 |
| 5 | DISSIDENT | Peter G Moody | 4= | 58kg | 114 |
| 6 | ROYAL DESCENT | Chris Waller | 6 | 55.5kg | 113 |
| 7 | FORETELLER (GB) | Chris Waller | 7 | 57kg | 112 |
| 8 | HAWKSPUR | Chris Waller | 8= | 56.5kg | 111 |
| 9 | MOMENT OF CHANGE | Peter G Moody | 8= | 56.5kg | 111 |
| 10 | CRITERION (NZ) | David Payne | 10= | 56kg | 110 |
| 11 | REBEL DANE | Gary Portelli | 10= | 56kg | 110 |
| 12 | TOYDINI | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 12= | 55.5kg | 109 |
| 13 | COMMANDING JEWEL | Leon & Troy Corstens | 12= | 53.5kg | 109 |
| 14 | MESSENE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 14= | 54kg | 106 |
| 15 | WEARY (FR) | Chris Waller | 14= | 54kg | 106 |
| 16 | DIAMOND DRILLE | Gai Waterhouse | 14= | 52kg | 106 |
| 17 | LASER HAWK | Joseph Pride | 17= | 53.5kg | 105 |
| 18 | MONTON | Ron Quinton | 17= | 53.5kg | 105 |
| 19 | LIDARI (FR) | Peter G Moody | 19= | 53kg | 104 |
| 20 | SPILLWAY (GB) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 19= | 53kg | 104 |
| 21 | STAR ROLLING | Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison | 19= | 53kg | 104 |
| 22 | AOMEN (IRE) | Anthony Cummings | 22= | 52.5kg | 103 |
| 23 | CHAUTAUQUA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 22= | 52.5kg | 103 |
| 24 | HE’S YOUR MAN (FR) | Chris Waller | 22= | 52.5kg | 103 |
| 25 | HONORIUS | David Payne | 22= | 52.5kg | 103 |
| 26 | LEEBAZ (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 22= | 52.5kg | 103 |
| 27 | KIRRAMOSA (NZ) | John Sargent | 27= | 52kg | 102 |
| 28 | SLOW PACE (USA) | Kris Lees | 27= | 52kg | 102 |
| 29 | CRACKERJACK KING (IRE) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 29= | 52kg | 101 |
| 30 | RECITE (NZ) | John Bary | 29= | 52kg | 101 |
| 31 | RIVA DE LAGO | Chris Waller | 29= | 52kg | 101 |
| 32 | ARABIAN GOLD | David Vandyke | 32= | 52kg | 100 |
| 33 | ATLANTE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 32= | 52kg | 100 |
| 34 | GYPSY DIAMOND | Peter & Paul Snowden | 32= | 52kg | 100 |
| 35 | NINTH LEGION | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 32= | 52kg | 100 |
| 36 | AKAVOROUN | Ciaron Maher | 36= | 52kg | 99 |
| 37 | BULL POINT | Chris Waller | 36= | 52kg | 99 |
| 38 | I’M IMPOSING (GB) | Chris Waller | 36= | 52kg | 99 |
| 39 | RHYTHM TO SPARE (NZ) | Michael Moroney | 36= | 52kg | 99 |
| 40 | ZEPHYRON (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 36= | 52kg | 99 |
| 41 | CHINTZ (NZ) | Joseph Pride | 41= | 52kg | 97 |
| 42 | JACQUINOT BAY | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 41= | 52kg | 97 |
| 43 | LUCKY CHAPPY (IRE) | Chris Waller | 43 | 52kg | 96 |
| 44 | HOOKED | John P Thompson | 44= | 52kg | 95 |
| 45 | JETSET LAD (NZ) | Brian Smith | 44= | 52kg | 95 |
| 46 | MR CHARD | Tony McEvoy | 44= | 52kg | 95 |
| 47 | VILANOVA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 44= | 52kg | 95 |
| 48 | CANNY BALLAD | Joseph Pride | 48 | 52kg | 94 |
| 49 | BRAVE CENTAUR (NZ) | Lance Noble | 49= | 52kg | 93 |
| 50 | REAL SURREAL | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 49= | 52kg | 93 |
| 51 | SWEET AS BRO (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | 51 | 52kg | 92 |
| 52 | ELECTRIC FUSION | Robert Smerdon | 52= | 52kg | 91 |
| 53 | SINGLE | Craig Carmody | 52= | 52kg | 91 |
| 54 | ESTONIAN PRINCESS | Scott Aspery | 54= | 52kg | 90 |
| 55 | SKIP TOWN | Matthew Smith | 54= | 52kg | 90 |
| 56 | INTIMATE MOMENT (NZ) | Ron Quinton | 56= | 52kg | 89 |
| 57 | LAIDBACK LARRY (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse | 56= | 52kg | 89 |
| 58 | BASS STRAIT (NZ) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 58= | 52kg | 88 |
| 59 | SAINT OR SINNER (NZ) | Michael Moroney | 58= | 52kg | 88 |
| 60 | ROCK STURDY | Joseph Pride | 60 | 52kg | 87 |
| 61 | AUSSIES LOVE SPORT | Gai Waterhouse | 61= | 52kg | 86 |
| 62 | PHEIDON | Gai Waterhouse | 61= | 52kg | 86 |
| 63 | BEST CASE (NZ) | Anthony Cummings | 63 | 52kg | 85 |
| 64 | ANY DAY WILL DO | David Vandyke | 64= | 52kg | 84 |
| 65 | LIBERTY’S CHOICE | Gai Waterhouse | 64= | 52kg | 84 |
| 66 | SHAMALIA | Bart & James Cummings | 64= | 52kg | 84 |
| 67 | CAMPANOLOGY (GB) | Chris Waller | 67 | 52kg | 83 |
| 68 | SPIRIT OF HEAVEN (NZ) | Peter G Moody | 68= | 52kg | 82 |
| 69 | WOODBINE | Gai Waterhouse | 68= | 52kg | 82 |
| 70 | ZULULAND | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 68= | 52kg | 82 |
| 71 | RYKER | Gai Waterhouse | 71 | 52kg | 81 |
| 72 | AS NEEDED | Anthony Cummings | 72= | 52kg | 80 |
| 73 | SCRATCH ME LUCKY | Paul Perry | 72= | 52kg | 80 |
| 74 | LONGMA | Gai Waterhouse | 74= | 52kg | 78 |
| 75 | LORNA MAY | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 74= | 52kg | 78 |
| 76 | ROCK HERO | David Payne | 76 | 52kg | 77 |
| 77 | SENSIBILITY | Peter G Moody | 77= | 52kg | 75 |
| 78 | THE BOUNCER (NZ) | Bryce Revell | 77= | 52kg | 75 |
| 79 | SPY DECODER (NZ) | Anthony Cummings | 79 | 52kg | 73 |
| 80 | DARCI MAGIC (NZ) | Bede Murray | 80= | 52kg | 71 |
| 81 | FORGET MAYBE | Anthony Cummings | 80= | 52kg | 71 |
| 82 | STAMINA | Peter G Moody | 80= | 52kg | 71 |
| 83 | BOLD CIRCLE | David Payne | 83 | 52kg | 70 |
| 84 | O’REILLY’S REVENGE (NZ) | Bede Murray | 84 | 52kg | 66 |
| 85 | DIAMONDSINTHENIGHT | David Pfieffer | 85 | 52kg | 64 |
