Racenet's editorial team has scoured the nominations and provided you with their futures tip for the Group I Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Group I The Metropolitan (2400m).
STEPHEN BRASSEL
EPSOM HANDICAP - DAWN WALL ($34 @ Bet365): Have had a good wrap on this mare since her debut performance as a three-year-old when unplaced in a 1400m maiden at Randwick. Caught the eye on that occasion and went on to win four of her next five starts with the only defeat being a sixth in the Group I Vinery Stakes on a heavy (9) behind Montoya's Secret. Had had enough and not the best of luck when unplaced as second favourite to Egg Tart in the Queensland Oaks after being wide for a good part of the race. Showed she was back in tip-top order when running outstanding closing sectionals behind Washington Heights on resumption and reckon 1600m is her ideal distance and looks a perfect Epsom type having won up to 1800m at Randwick.
METROPOLITAN – CHOCANTE ($14 @ Bet365): Trying to work out which horses will go to the race is half the problem with Hickmott/Williams and Waller holding all the keys to the vault but I'm going to take the punt and get away from the numbers game and have something on the Stephen Marsh-trained Chocante. He was very good in Brisbane during the winter closing off with an easy win in the Brisbane Cup over 2200m and judging by his first-up performance when a slashing third behind Winx in the Chelmsford Stakes the gelding appears to have come back in top order. Only lightly raced for a five-year-old but building a good record (16-5-2-5) and The Metropolitan should be ideal.
CLINTON PAYNE
EPSOM HANDICAP – SPECTROSCOPE ($15 @ Bet365) : I haven't given up on this smart import after his first-up run in the Show County Quality. His trials leading up to that race gave the indication he's come back every bit as good as he showed he was in the autumn and the Show County was never run to suit. I'm expecting sharp improvement next time he steps out over 1400m plus and he'll show he's a genuine Epsom player.
THE METROPOLITAN – LIFE LESS ORDINARY ($13 @ CrownBet): The Metropolitan isn't a race I'm ever keen on betting early because it isn't regarded as a grand final for many of the entries. This year the Lloyd Williams team has entered 10 potential runners. Chances are the horse they bring will be competitive the problem is you don't know which ones they will bring. Chris Waller is similar. He's got nine in the entries and not all of them will run but if Life Less Ordinary does turn up, he'll be a genuine contender.
PAUL JOICE
EPSOM HANDICAP – HAPPY CLAPPER ($11 @ Crownbet): Appears to be going better than ever, evidenced by his strong first-up win in the Tramway Stakes last Saturday. Loves the Randwick mile, finishing second in two Doncasters and winning a Villiers, and looks bang on target for a tilt at this year's Epsom. Only a heavy track would put him a risk. Looks a good bet this far out.
THE METROPOLITAN – CHOCANTE ($14 @ Bet365): From a proven Kiwi stable that has had ambitions to win this race since the start of the preparation. This son of Shocking resumed off his Brisbane Cup win with an excellent third behind Winx in last Saturday's Chelmsford Stakes at weight-for-age which augurs well coming back to a handicap. Handles all track conditions so no need to worry if we have another wet Randwick.
BRAD WATERS
EPSOM HANDICAP – FOXPLAY ($11 @ Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, William Hill, Bookmaker, Bet365, Betstar): Sticking with the obvious in the Epsom and going with Foxplay to be hard to beat in the race third-up. Her first-up effort when going down narrowly to the champ Winx was terrific and she'll just continue to improve with racing. She runs in the Theo Marks on Saturday, which leaves Chris Waller three weeks to get her into the Epsom and she's a Group I winner over the Randwick mile.
THE METROPOLITAN – HANS HOLBEIN ($21 @ CrownBet): I think the Metropolitan will be one of the races Lloyd Williams targets with his big team of Melbourne Cup aspirants and Hans Holbein might be the one he sends north for a crack at the Sydney staying feature. Hans Holbein was a solid fifth after racing on the pace when resuming at Moonee Valley on August 26 and has another run over the 2040m course on Saturday, which will top him off for the 2400m at Randwick three weeks later. Hans Holbein has blitzed his rivals in two of his three Australian runs at 2400m or further and can measure up to the Metropolitan in which there are no stars this year.
TOM WALTER
EPSOM HANDICAP – INVINCIBLE GEM ($17 @ Ladbrokes, Bookmaker, Betstar): Got a lot of time for this mare. The progression she made last preparation as a three-year-old was incredible and she picked up from where she left off with a barnstorming win in the Group II Missile Stakes (1200m) first-up. Then went to the Tramway Stakes second-up and was luckless in third. Think she fits the profile of an Epsom winner perfectly, being a four-year-old yet to win a Group I. Should get an attractive weight and handles all track conditions.
THE METROPOLITAN – ADMIRAL JELLO ($101 @ Bet365): Think this horse is a terrific chance in the Newcastle Cup next week after an excellent run over 2000m last Saturday at Randwick. Coming from last on the turn before finishing within 4-1/2 lengths of Up 'n' Rolling who had a charmed passage to victory. Admiral Jello had to carry 4kg more than him on that occasion. They will likely clash again in the Metropolitan, and I think this bloke is worth a throw at the stumps, especially given that Up 'n' Rolling is currently equal favourite.
DARRYL SHERER
EPSOM HANDICAP – MCCREERY ($21 @ CrownBet): Weight is the important factor to this horse. Finished sixth in the race last year with 51.5kg and beaten less than two lengths. Went up to 53kg for the Doncaster and came from a long way back to finish sixth. A year older and probably hasn't improved but you know he will get the trip and if some of the main players are at the top of the handicap then he has a chance.
THE METROPOLITAN – HARLEM ($26 @ Sportsbet): Couldn't decide between Antonio Giuseppe and Harlem so went for the bigger price. Looks to have come back in great order after a somewhat rushed first Australian campaign where he showed he can certainly be competitive at a high level and he should be favourably treated at the weights. His European form is certainly good enough for a race like this and if he has taken some natural improvement from his first Australian preparation then he can give this a big shake.
BEN DORRIES
EPSOM HANDICAP – EGG TART ($5 @ Bet365): Egg Tart is no Winx but from what I saw in Queensland during the winter, she is a talented and promising galloper. Chris Waller is set to follow the Winx path to the Epsom and I love the way the mare who has now won six in a row often puts a space on her opposition at the end of her races. Waller told me in Brisbane there were some early similarities between Egg Tart and Winx and that will do me. If Egg Tart is good enough to be even mentioned in the same breath as Winx, she will be mighty hard to beat in the Epsom.
THE METROPOLITAN – UP 'N' ROLLING ($11 @ Crownbet): Up 'n' Rolling has done it with ease his last couple and I see no reason why he isn't the perfect lightweight contender for The Metropolitan. Hasn't had to spend much petrol as he has been winning as he likes and I'd be surprised if he couldn't stay 2400m. Waller has plenty of chances up the top of the bettingmarket in Metropolitan betting but this lightly-raced former Kiwi stayer has a great sense of timing and plenty of x-factor.
TOM BADDOCK
EPSOM HANDICAP – TOM MELBOURNE ($15 @ Bet365): He is a totally different horse since joining the Chris Waller stable. His desire to win seems to now be matching his ability and chances are he will only get better. He was terribly unlucky first-up and backed it up with an outstanding run in the Tramway behind Happy Clapper when still doing plenty wrong. If he puts it all together he is more than good enough to make his presence felt in an Epsom and at $15 is worthy of an each-way ticket.
WHO SHOT THEBARMAN ($41 @ Sportsbet): – This old stalwart is getting on in age but is a proven stayer that has been competitive at the highest level for many years and with as much as $41 available he looks a worthy each-way gamble. The thing about this horse is he's likely to run in the race and he won't be that price on the day. He finished fifth in last year's Melbourne Cup and has six Group I placings to his name from 18 starts. He's sure to run an honest race again.
