Trainer Kelly Schweida still marvels at the toughness of comeback gelding Epic which lines up for the 12th time this campaign on Saturday.
Epic scored an impressive last-start win at Doomben two weeks ago and it was enough to encourage Schweida to set him for the Pure Jali Handicap at Doomben.
It was Epic’s first win of the campaign which started in March but he has been a model of consistency.
“If he had got beaten last time he certainly would have been straight for a spell,” Schweida said.
“But Saturday’s race isn’t any harder than last time and he seems to be loving racing.
“I mean look at his record at the Doomben 1600 metres. He has won at the track and distance six times so why wouldn’t we give him another go?”
Schweida has a real soft spot for Epic who he has nursed through his career for a total of 10 wins and $412,000 in prize money.
“He really is a tough old bugger. He has twice come back from career-threatening injuries and not many horses do that.
“I sometimes think what might have been had he stayed injury-free.”
The now eight-year-old will be back next year after a break with an unusual mission.
“Some of his owners are from down around Scone and they would love to race him in a feature there. So long-term we would be looking at a race like the Scone Cup for him,” Schweida said.
