The Epsom Handicap: what you need to know

$1 MILLION EPSOM HANDICAP

HISTORY

* Named after the famous racecourse in the south of England where the Epsom Derby has been run since 1780.

* The Epsom was first run in 1865 when won by Dundee.

NOTABLE WINNERS

* Amounis (1926, 1928), Chatham (1932-33), Shannon (1945), Sky High (1961), Toi Port (1963-64), Gunsynd (1971), Super Impose (1990-91), Filante (1996), Shogun Lodge (2000), Desert War (2004, 2005), Racing To Win (2006), Theseo (2008).

* Dundee proved his win in the inaugural Epsom was no fluke when he completed the Randwick mile double with success in the first Doncaster Handicap in 1866.

* Others to complete the Epsom-Doncaster double in the same season include Marvel (1891-92), Chatham (1933-34), Blue Legend (1946-47), Broker’s Tip (1969-70), Gunsynd (1971-72), Authentic Heir (1975-76), Super Impose (1990-91) and Winx (2015-16).

* The most successful trainers are the late TJ Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse with seven wins apiece.

* Lightweight chance Fabrizio will bid to give Waterhouse her eighth Epsom and first in partnership with Adrian Bott.

THIS YEAR’S FIELD

* Three of the 13 runners are Group One winners – Palentino, Le Romain and Vanbrugh. Hauraki has been placed at the highest level four times, most recently when second to Winx in the George Main Stakes.

* Chris Waller has trained the winner for the past three years – 2015 Winx, 2014 He’s Your Man, 2013 Boban.

* Waller has four runners this year – McCreery, Mackintosh, Togersen and Vanbrugh.

KEY COMMENTS

“I won’t need luck getting a nice position so that makes my job a bit easier” – Le Romain’s jockey Hugh Bowman after drawing barrier three.

“It’s a very open, very competitive field, but there’s been a lot of merit in his last two runs” – Hauraki’s trainer John O’Shea

“We’re better off at the weights and just the fact that Winx isn’t in there has got to be a big bonus” – Trainer Jason Attard on Sons Of John, third last year.

“Barrier one is going to be tricky” – Happy Clapper’s jockey Brenton Avdulla.