Happy Clapper’s Epsom Handicap assignment set

Tom Walter - Monday September 18

Epsom Handicap favourite Happy Clapper is set to run as the default topweight in Saturday week's feature mile at Randwick.

Advertisement

Happy Clapper. Photo: Steve Hart

Black Heart Bart (58kg), Le Romain (58kg), Humidor (58kg), and Vega Magic (57kg) were all handicapped above Happy Clapper (56.5kg) at the release of weights on Tuesday however with that quartet not running, Pat Webster's seven-year-old gelding will be elevated to 57kg in his pursuit for an elusive Group I.

With prizemoney of more than $2.4 million, Happy Clapper is within the top 100 of millionaire horses in Australia despite still being a maiden at the elite level.

His career earnings (from only 27 starts) exceed that of Melbourne Cup winners Brew and Vintage Crop, as well as modern time stars like Desert War, Spinning Hill, Starcraft, Excellerator, General Nediym, and Stratum.

The most weight Happy Clapper will have to concede in this year's Epsom Handicap will be 9kg, with a base weight of 48kg allocated to three-year-olds.

Other notable Epsom Handicap contenders include Sense Of Occasion (56kg), Tosen Stardom (55kg), Foxplay (54kg), Hey Doc (53.5kg), I Am Star (52kg), Heavens Above (51.5kg), Invincible Gem (52kg), and Egg Tart (50.5kg).

Click here to view the weights for the $1 million Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Advertisment

More Reading...

Return To Form For Tom Kitten – Takes Out Kevin Heffernan Stakes

Having not won since defeating Mr Brightside in the G1 All-Star Mile in March last year, a drop in class has seen a return to form for Harry Angel (IRE) gelding Tom Kitten, winning the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield for Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Brilliant Return for Capitalist Filly Alpha Sofie

A decision to transfer talented Capitalist filly Alpha Sofie from the Queensland stable of Jason Edwards to Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman in Victoria last year is proving a good one with the filly staking a serious claim for the big autumn sprints at Caulfield on Saturday.

Observer Continues His Winning Ways – G1 Australian Guineas Next

Ending his 3yo spring campaign with success in the G1 VRC Derby (2500m) off the back of his G2 MVRC Vase (2040m) win, Ciaron Maher’s Ghaiyyath colt Observer resumed with another impressive performance, taking out the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Ocean Park Filly Wins G2 Fillies Classic for Yulong

Progressive filly Ohope Wins completed the perfect dress rehearsal for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in a fortnight when she stormed home out wide from last on the corner to take out the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa.

Back to Back G1 Wins for Almanzor Sprinter First Five

Te Rapa trainer David Greene is riding the crest of a wave after he doubled his Group One tally when First Five took out the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at his home track on Saturday.

Magnus Filly Streisand On Song In G2 Blue Diamond Prelude

Already stakes placed on two prior occasions, Clinton McDonald’s 2yo filly Streisand (Magnus) improved from her slightly unlucky fifth in the G3 MRC Blue Diamond Preview (F) (1000m) last time out to win the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Kiwi Bred Per Incanto Sprinter Wins G2 Rubiton

New Zealand-bred gelding Oak Hill lifted his ever-improving career to another new level with his first black-type victory in the A$300,000 Gr.2 Here For The Horses Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tempted Eyes G1 Surround Stakes After Eskimo Prince Victory

Having clearly come back in outstanding form, Ciaron Maher’s G2-winning, G1 placed Street Boss filly Tempted justified her short odds with an emphatic victory in the G3 ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), setting herself up nicely for the G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28.

Yarraman Sold Colt Fireball Wins $2million Inglis Millennium

The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday drew a full field of 16 with a myriad of different formlines, but in the end why go past the obvious – Chris Waller, James McDonald and a Snitzel colt with a debut win on the board!

New SW Savabeel - Witz End Wins Listed Hazlett Stakes

Former northern galloper Witz End made his presence felt for new trainer Terri Rae when he scored the second win from just four starts from Rae’s Canterbury base when taking out the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday.