Epsom Handicap 2026 – What the jockeys said

Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick, where God’s Window gave Siena Grima a memorable first Group 1 victory.

Siena Grima (God’s Window): “I galloped him Thursday, and he just gave me the most incredible feel. I had a lovely cart out wide to the better part of the track, and he just filled me with confidence the entire way and when I went past them all I thought, I’m going to win my first Group One! And I did.

“He can get on the chewy and when he didn’t begin the best, I didn’t want to upset him and rev him up, so I just jumped, let him slide across. I was back with Mollie (Fitzgerald on Encap) and I thought, us girls are going to get this done.

“Darren (Beadman) said, ‘get on your train early’. I followed Plymouth out. He gave me a beautiful cart out, and when I got into him he just kept finding.

“I honestly was filled with confidence just with the horse and the confidence Darren and Chris had coming into it. They just told me to have a great time and have fun, and I can’t thank everyone that has been involved at getting me here, but just to have my first Group One win in a first ride is unreal.

“I probably won’t be turning up to work on Monday. Just joking. I’ll be there for track work, Chris, don’t worry.”

Chad Schofield (Ceolwulf): “He has gone terrific. Had a perfect run throughout following the right horses. Was on the back of Idle Flyer and later Tom Kitten but they didn’t take me anywhere. That resulted in me being held up which with the big weight wasn’t ideal. Burst through the pack and was very good.”

Adam Hyeronimus (Tom Kitten): “He has gone fantastic. We had to work into a position. He presented to win but peaked on his run.”

James McDonald (Autumn Boy): “Pretty happy with him. Just Barrier 1 was a bit of a curse. Got shuffled back at the wrong time. Didn’t get clear air so it was a forgive.”

Jason Collett (Idle Flyer): “I was disappointed with her run. She got the cover down the side but didn’t have any horse to play with.”

Zac Lloyd (Well Written): “I couldn’t fault the way she presented. Handled the day really well. First half went perfect. The run presented, if she quickened well enough she would have gotten through. Didn’t quicken as well as she did in New Zealand.”

Tim Clark (Militarize): “He didn’t have a lot of luck from his draw. Ran OK.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Attica): “He lobbed into a nice spot. When they backed the tempo off, he didn’t settle for me. Would have been better without the blinkers on. We had a try today but blinkers off next time.”

Reece Jones (Vivy Air): “She ran on well. Just got stuck behind a wall of horses.”

Winona Costin (Fully Lit): “Really good effort. Stuck to his task nicely late.”

Rachel King (Perfumist): “Very not her, the run today. Not quite sure.”

Robbie Dolan (Matcha Latte): “Got cast out three wide. A question mark at the mile and faded the last furlong. Ran a cheeky race.

Jackson Radley (Plymouth): “He was fantastic. Had a nice soft run on the back of Ceowulf. Got a good cart into it. The winner came past us early but his last 300m was the best part of his race.”

Andrew Adkins (Declichy Boulevard): “Messy sort of run race. Didn’t get the drag up when I needed it. Luckless in the straight.”

Mollie Fitzgerald (Encap): “Just wasn’t super comfortable letting down today.”

Tyler Schiller (Mr Miller): “I thought he ran terrific. Handled himself well and executed the plan. Didn’t fire in this grade this time but in a couple more runs he will be fantastic.”