Strong numbers for Epsom/Metropolitan

Red Excitement (left), 2nd to Winx in the Chelmsford, is among the entries for the Epsom Handicap.

Red Excitement, the horse who gave Winx a fright in the Chelmsford Stakes, is among 89 nominations for the Group One Epsom Handicap.

The Gerald Ryan-trained Red Excitement led until the final 50 metres of Saturday’s Group Two Chelmsford until the champion ran him down to win by a length.

Egg Tart, a Chris Waller-trained stablemate of Winx, runs in Saturday’s Theo Marks Stakes as a lead-in to the Epsom (1600m) on September 30.

Saturday’s Tramway Stakes winner Happy Clapper has been given a handicap rating of 113 and is among the leading Epsom contenders.

Sydney’s premier trainer, Waller has 13 entries in the Epsom and nine of the 73 nominations for the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) on the same day.

Melbourne’s leading trainer Darren Weir has 10 nominations for the Epsom headed by Black Heart Bart and Brave Smash and has entered 11 stayers for the Metropolitan.

Weights for both races will be released on September 18.