Chris Waller’s imported galloper God’s Window produced a stunning upset in the 2026 Epsom Handicap results at Randwick on Saturday, surging home from the tail of the field at $26 to hand apprentice Siena Grima a fairytale first Group 1 victory at her very first ride at the elite level.

In one of the stories of the Sydney Spring Carnival, the six-year-old son of Dubawi defied his outsider status to score a brilliant 1¾-length victory in the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) over the Joe Pride-trained topweight Ceolwulf, while Tom Kitten ran on well for third in the iconic Randwick mile feature showing glimpses of his former greatness.

GOD'S WINDOW FOR SIENA GRIMA ?

THE STAR APPRENTICE WINS THE EPSOM AT HER FIRST GROUP 1 RIDE ? pic.twitter.com/AgJMff7sOF

— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) October 3, 2026

After missing the start slightly, God’s Window settled near the rear of the field as Fully Lit rolled forward to dictate terms and several of the major chances settled ahead of him in running. But Grima remained patient throughout, allowing the lightly weighted gelding to find his rhythm before angling into clear running in the straight.

Once balanced up on the better ground, God’s Window ($26) unleashed a powerful finishing burst, sweeping down the outside to storm past his rivals and record the biggest victory of his career in a winning time of 1:35.22.

The result capped a remarkable rise for Grima, who entered the race without a previous Group 1 ride to her name and left Randwick as a Group 1-winning jockey.

Speaking after the emotional victory, Grima revealed the confidence-building feel the gelding had given her during the week.

“I galloped him Thursday, and he just gave me the most incredible feel,” she said.

“I had a lovely cart out wide to the better part of the track, and he just filled me with confidence the entire way and when I went past them all I thought, I’m going to win my first Group One! And I did.”

Despite settling back in the field, Grima never panicked when the gelding failed to jump cleanly.

“I was a little bit,” she said.

“He can get on the chewy and when he didn’t begin the best, I didn’t want to upset him and rev him up, so I just jumped, let him slide across. I was back with Mollie (Fitzgerald on Encap) and I thought, us girls are going to get this done.

“Darren (Beadman) said, ‘get on your train early’. I followed Plymouth out. He gave me a beautiful cart out, and when I got into him he just kept finding.”

The victory was made even more extraordinary by the fact it came at Grima’s first opportunity in a Group 1 contest.

“I honestly was filled with confidence just with the horse and the confidence Darren and Chris had coming into it,” she added.

“They just told me to have a great time and have fun, and I can’t thank everyone that has been involved at getting me here, but just to have my first Group One win in a first ride is unreal.

“I probably won’t be turning up to work on Monday. Just joking. I’ll be there for track work, Chris, don’t worry.”

Additional post-race comments highlighted just how much belief Grima had in the horse heading into the race.

“I actually can’t believe it. I’m a bit emotional,” she said.

“He’s a beautiful horse and I can’t thank Chris, Darren and the owners.

“He didn’t jump away the best but he was travelling so well.”

Her familiarity with God’s Window also played a significant role in helping her handle the pressure of the occasion.

“I felt really calm. I think I just know him so well,” she said.

“He loves Randwick, he loves the mile. He put in a super first-up in the Theo Marks. I knew he had it in him, so I was more than happy to get to 50 for riding him.”

As the field swung for home, Grima knew she had plenty of horse underneath her.

“I hit the top of the straight and just peeled out and I tried to give him as easy a time getting out there as I could,” she added.

“He just filled me with absolute confidence the whole way.”

While Grima stole the headlines, God’s Window’s performance was equally impressive.

The British-bred gelding had hinted at his ability with strong recent Sydney form and a Randwick mile win earlier this year, but few expected him to topple a quality Epsom field at Group 1 level.

Behind the winner, Ceolwulf lost no admirers carrying 59kg, with jockey Chad Schofield noting the gelding’s run was full of merit despite traffic issues at a crucial stage.

“He has gone terrific,” Schofield said of the brave runner-up who gave the Epsom winner 9kg.

“Had a perfect run throughout following the right horses. Was on the back of Idle Flyer and later Tom Kitten but they didn’t take me anywhere.

“That resulted in me being held up which with the big weight wasn’t ideal. Burst through the pack and was very good.”

Tom Kitten also performed admirably after covering extra ground.

“He has gone fantastic. We had to work into a position. He presented to win but peaked on his run,” jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.

For Waller, the upset victory added another chapter to his remarkable Epsom Handicap record, while for Grima it was the type of breakthrough moment every apprentice dreams about.

At $26, God’s Window delivered one of the biggest surprises of the Sydney spring, but judging by the confidence of his rider and the way he powered through the line, it may not be the last major race success for the talented import.

On a memorable Randwick afternoon, the outsider and the apprentice combined to produce an Epsom Handicap result that will be remembered for many years to come.