Epidemic adds to winning record

Epidemic has a way to go to live up to her Group One-winning brother Impending but she has shown she is on the right track with her victory at Rosehill.

Although she had only three rivals in Saturday’s 1200m sprint for three-year-olds, Epidemic had to knuckle down to beat Curdled by a short neck.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is pleased with her effort and predicts she will make it to better races in the future, having won two of her three starts this campaign.

“I am inclined to let her go through her grades for now but I have no doubt she can go on to better things,” Cummings said.

Cummings’ assistant, Darren Beadman, has a close association with the family of Epidemic and Impending, having ridden their parents, Lonhro and Mnemosyne, to Group One wins.

He was also the trainer of Impending when he won the Stradbroke Handicap this year in between John O’Shea’s departure from Godolphin and Cummings’ tenure.

“She’s a winner and she’s tough like mum,” he said.

Epidemic was sent out the $2.25 favourite and tracked the leader Junglized ($4) for most of the race.

She then wore down Curdled ($5), who took up the running in the straight.

Equal Balance ($4.80) was third all the way while Junglized finished fourth, with 1-1/2 lengths covering the field.