Superstar Autum Glow might not be returning to chase back-to-back Epsom Handicap titles, but that hasn’t made the task of last year’s runner-up Fully Lit any easier in his attempt to go one better.
The feature mile has attracted a deep field, headlined by multiple Group 1 winner Ceolwulf, unbeaten New Zealander Well Written and Autumn Glow’s talented Chris Waller-trained stablemate, Autumn Boy.
Fully Lit’s co-trainer Adrian Bott regards Saturday’s renewal as one of the more open in recent years, nominating Autumn Boy as the testing material.
“He looks the obvious horse,” Bott said of Autumn Boy.
“He’s coming through the right races, weight-for-age races, and he’s obviously a very talented horse as well.
“But it is a race with plenty of depth, and there’s more than just one chance in the race.”
Fully Lit has been given a more targeted preparation for the Group 1 this spring, and Bott feels he is in superior form.
That appears to be borne out on the track, with Fully Lit finishing third in the Cameron Handicap (1400m) last year and winning it this time in.
Significantly, he had a busy campaign leading into the 2025 Epsom Handicap, but will be fourth-up in the race on Saturday.
“I feel he’s had a much better lead-up and much better, targeted preparation,” Bott said.
“He was ninth-up in the Epsom last year, so it’s a little bit more strategic this time around.
“He’d had a long-term spell prior to that last campaign, and he’s a horse that does so well it took him quite a while to reach his peak fitness, and (he struck) a few heavy tracks which he didn’t enjoy.
“This time around, it gives us a bit of confidence that the deeper we get into the campaign, the stronger we’re going to see him.
“He’s been very effective over this mile and still gets in very well at the weights.”
Fully Lit has finished runner-up at his only two starts over 1600m, both at Randwick.
He jumped from barrier seven last year and has gate eight this weekend, with Winona Costin, who rode him in the Epsom 12 months ago, again in the saddle.
