It has been a tough start to the week for Annabel Neasham, but her luck could turn for the better when she bids for back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
Neasham confirmed on Tuesday that Sunshine In Paris had suffered a leg injury which, while minor, had forced the mare’s withdrawal from next month’s $20 million The Everest (1200m).
However, the stable has some handy arsenal on Saturday headed by My Oberon, who will be shooting to give Neasham an outright win in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) after former barn mate Top Ranked dead-heated for first with Ellsberg 12 months ago.
Formerly trained by William Haggas in England, My Oberon arrived in Australia last spring as a dual stakes winner and was quickly pigeon-holed as a wet tracker with his two best performances coming on heavy ground, including a first-up win in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley.
But he has shown another string to his bow this preparation, finishing an eye-catching sixth in soft 5 conditions in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) and again performing solidly when fourth to Think It Over on a good surface in the 7 Stakes (1600m).
Significantly, My Oberon’s brace of black-type victories overseas were both on firm tracks and Neasham’s racing manager Rob Archibald felt the gelding had returned a more rounded horse this campaign.
“He does appreciate a bit of give in the ground for him to be at his best, but he’s a lot more seasoned this time around and seems to have acclimatised better to Australian conditions,” Archibald said.
“His two runs have been very good on good tracks and back in Europe he coped really well on good tracks as well.
“I think he’s just in a really good place, physically and mentally, and we’re seeing him run consistently.
“He’s in good order, he’s third-up for the preparation and he’s ready to run a big race.”
My Oberon ($21) has drawn barrier 18 but double-figure alleys haven’t been a major negative in recent years, providing 12 of the past 19 Epsom winners including Theseo, who jumped from the same gate in 2008.
The Epsom has changed complexion in the past 24 hours with the scratching of favourite Pericles, who was found to have blood in a nostril after a trackwork gallop on Tuesday.
Hope In Your Heart is the new top pick at $7 in an open betting race.
