Leading conditioner, Chris Waller, brings eight of his best to The Epsom Handicap, including the favourites - D’argento and Unforgotten.
We feature a horse-by-horse analysis.
Hartnell: Hartnell did well in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes or the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes, although he won neither. However is he as good as he can be?
Pierata: The Pierro colt did well to win Gr.2 Missile Stakes, beating Kementari and he was runner-up Siege Of Quebec in the Bill Ritchie Handicap last start. He is going to be the one to cause the upset (if there is one) in his bid to record a maiden Group 1 win.
D’argento: He was runner-up to Winx in the Winx Stakes, which says a lot.But he ran-up again behind Home Of The Brave in the Theo Marks Stakes, which makes one wonder whether he's making a habit of it?
Shillelagh: The Irish Dance colt needs to improve quite a bit to be a genuine chance in this contest.
Duca Valentinois: The colt performed well in the Bill Ritchie Handicap but he has to improve consideably if he wants to make a mark in this company.
Single Gaze: Chris Waller's Single Gaze was found lame after the Chelmsford Stakes and it was not a brilliant performance at that. She has a lot to prove.
Unforgotten: She recorded a most impressive win in the Chelmsford Stakes and was first-up in the Winx Stakes. Along with Pierata, Unforgotten is the horse to beat in the Epsom Handicap.
Mister Sea Wolf: Now this is a wild card. Mister Sea Wolf heads into the Epsom Handicap on the back of two solid wins in the Winter Challenge and the Rowley Mile.
Arbeitsam: In his third start Arbeitsam could be planning to use the wide barrier draw as an advantage and break though the front.
Religify: Religify has been beaten easily by Unforgotten in the Chelmsford Stakes and after his performance in the George Main Stakes. His chances of winning the contest are looking slim at this stage.
Lanciato: Lanciato is easily classified as an exotic, unlikely to stake his claim to the big prize.
Tom Melbourne: This boy has a cult following. His performance in the Bill Ritchie Handicap was very flat. Jockey Dean Yendall will need to either go forward or take him right to the back.
Champagne Cuddles: She was an Everest 2018 possibility at one point but didn't make the cut. She was narrowly denied by Shumookh in the Golden Pendant last weekend but this august company could make it tough going for her.
Red Excitement: Red Excitement may have been runner-up in the Cameron Handicap, but this is a tougher race.
New Tipperary: Can New Tipperary maintain the form which helped him win in the Cameron Handicap?
Siege Of Quebec: Siege Of Quebec beat Pierata to win the Bill Ritchie Handicap last start. He has a genuine chance at winning this one.
Invictus Prince: The Dansili colt finished behind Winx in the Winx Stakes but couldn't reproduce that performance in the Bill Ritchie Handicap. Again can he raise his form to land in the Superfecta at least?
Radipole: Radipole may totally out classed here.
Muraaqeb: Although Muraaqeb enjoys the track at Royal Randwick, this field may not be his kettle to fish.
Goodfella: It is his third start in three weeks and based on past performance his ability to win this one looks quite low.
Nettoyer: Nettoyer is the first emergency for the Epsom Handicap and The Metropolitan field. But she may not get into or make a difference in either fields.
Paret: After three straight wins, he was dismal in the Bill Ritchie Handicap. Another wild card, methinks!
1st Happy Clapper (Patrick Webster, Blake Shinn), 2nd Tom Melbourne (Chris Waller, Glen Boss), 3rd Snitzson (David & B Hayes & T Dabernig, Cory Parish), 4th Foxplay (Chris Waller, Hugh Bowman), 5th Sound Proposition (Kris Lees, Corey Brown), 6th Comin’ Through (Chris Waller, Joao Moreira), 7th Mccreery (Chris Waller, Tommy Berry), 8th Red Excitement (Gerald Ryan, Brenton Avdulla), 9th Savile Row (Michael Moroney, Jay Ford), 10th Zanbag (John P Thompson, Damian Lane)
Distance: 1,600 metres, Surface: Turf,Track: Right-handed, Qualification:Horses three years old and older, Weight:Handicap,Purse:A$1,000,000 (2017), Bonuses:Winner exemption from a ballot on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com