Happy Clapper has opened favourite for the G1 Epsom Handicap
If the market is any indication, trainer Chris Waller is in the box seat to win his fourth Epsom Handicap in five years.
The Pat Webster-trained Happy Clapper remains the $4.50 favourite with the next six in betting from Sydney’s leading stable.
Dual Oaks winner Egg Tart is at $6 with Comin’ Through firming on Monday from $11 to $8 ahead of Foxplay and Tom Melbourne at $11 and Mackintosh and McCreery at $15.
Hong Kong’s champion jockey Joao Moreira will ride Comin’ Through who has 50.5kg but will rise to 51 when acceptances are taken on Tuesday and weights rise with Happy Clapper to carry top weight of 57kg.
Waller won with Boban in 2013, and He’s Your Man and Winx the following two years.
Foxplay, McCreery and Mackintosh have also been entered for the Hill Stakes over 1800 metres as has Red Excitement who is a $15 chance in the Epsom (1600m).
Red Excitement’s trainer Gerald Ryan will not accept with Saturday’s Shannon Stakes winner Washington Heights.
Egg Tart, who finished second to the Ryan-trained Deploy in the Theo Marks at her first start since her Queensland Oaks win, was given a race day outing and gallop at Rosehill on Saturday.
“She is a very relaxed horse and ran second to a horse who broke a track record in the Theo Marks,” Waller said.
“I’m very happy with her and her gallop was pleasing and what we wanted to see.”
Her race jockey Kerrin McEvoy was also pleased with her work-out.
“It was a good pipe-opener,” he said.
McEvoy rode Egg Tart to win the Queensland Oaks as well as the Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide during the autumn.
Waller also has a strong hand in Saturday’s Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) with Libran and Life Less Ordinary the $6 equal favourites ahead of stablemate Antonio Giuseppe and the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke.
The final fields and barrier draws will be determined on Tuesday morning.
