Michael Walker cannot make the weight to ride Comin’ Through in the Epsom Handicap, but his presence will still be felt if the horse claims the $1 million mile at Randwick.
Although the four-year-old was a last-start winner in the Group Three Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) on September 16, Walker suggested a gear change ahead of Saturday’s feature.
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller, who is after his fourth Epsom win in five years, subsequently dispensed with blinkers and Comin’ Through will instead sport visors with a slit in the back in a bid to raise his awareness.
“Michael got off him and just felt he couldn’t feel the horses coming to him,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said.
“He felt had Comin’ Through actually felt them coming to his girth he would have pulled out an extra gear.”
Comin’ Through galloped with the visors on Tuesday and appeared sharper when challenged by a stablemate.
Unfortunately for Walker, he could not make Comin’ Through’s 51kg so Hong Kong champion Joao Moreira steps in.
A half brother to triple Group One winner Criterion, Comin’ Through is raced by his breeder, New Zealand businessman and philanthropist, Sir Owen Glenn.
Comin’ Through is one of four runners for Waller after his leading chance Egg Tart was withdrawn on Friday because of an ongoing eye irritation.
The original Epsom Handicap field of 14 has trimmed to 10 with Embley, He’s Our Rokkii and I Am A Star also defecting since Tuesday’s barrier draw.
Comin’ Through and stablemate Tom Melbourne replaced Egg Tart on the second line of betting with Happy Clapper ($2.60) holding sway.
Foxplay ($8) also looms as an obvious threat to Happy Clapper claiming his first Group One win but the outside gate means Hugh Bowman will have his work cut out on the classy mare.
“The barrier makes it’s hard, but Hughie’s the right man not to panic,” Duckworth said.
He said Foxplay had regrouped well from her third behind the indomitable Winx in the Group One George Main Stakes a fortnight ago.
“I know that took a lot out of her but she’s bounced back from that. Her work has been exceptional,”
Champion jockey Bowman was also upbeat about Foxplay adding another Group One to her Queen Of The Turf triumph in April.
“She’s got form behind Winx, which is good form anywhere,” he said.
“She gets a nice bit of weight (2.5kg) from Happy Clapper.
“She’s got an awkward gate but she’s won from out wide before and she does like some racing room.”
Tom Melbourne is striving to improve on three consecutive seconds since joining the stable in April while six-year-old McCreery ($13) is Waller’s other representative.
