Epimeles has lived up to the opinion that trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young had placed on the colt, claiming a debut win at Sandown.
The son of Dundeel took out the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday under a brave rail hugging ride by John Allen.
Getting up on the inside of third placed Invincible Beau ($3.80) at the 200m mark, Epimeles ($3.20) raced to a 1-¾ length win from the $2.60 favourite Signor Bill.
Invicible Beau was a further two lengths away third.
Young said Epimeles had shown the stable considerable ability during an earlier preparation before requiring a break.
“He showed us plenty in that first prep that we had him, and we thought that he might be our Blue Diamond type of horse,” Young said.
“But he went shin sore at the wrong time, so we tipped him out, gave him a bit of a break and brought him back.
“We’ve been a little bit soft on him this prep, and he probably got the job done today on raw ability.
“He’s only going to get better and will probably appreciate a trip being a Dundeel.”
Young said she held concerns in the straight with Epimeles locked away on the fence behind the leader.
But what she liked was the colt’s explosive turn of foot.
“He looked like he was going to be a bit stiff half-way through the straight, but Robbie Laing’s horse came out and we got a nice rail run,” Young said.
“He’s a big green sort of horse that had a nice turn of foot today.
“We thought quite a bit of him at home, but we thought he might be a bit exposed having only had the two jump-outs, but he got the job done.”
Young said the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on April 25 was a potential next assignment for the colt.
“It will be four weeks in between, so it might be suitable,” Young said.
“But we’ll see how he pulls up and make some plans from there.”
