Well Written puts unbeaten record on the line in Epsom Handicap

Unbeaten New Zealand star Well Written faces the biggest test of her career when she takes on some of Australia’s leading milers in Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

Stephen Marsh’s four-year-old has won all seven of her starts, including two Group 1 victories, and arrives in Sydney with plenty in her favour after drawing barrier three and securing Zac Lloyd for the ride.

“You just want to keep the picket fence going and this is certainly her biggest test to date,’’ he said.

“You can’t protect them all their life and we felt it was time to have a real go at it.

“She’s been brilliant in New Zealand, she’s won some races phenomenally and she’s come back as a four-year-old and beaten a good field of weight-for-age horses.

“Now she’s got to come here and take on some good Australians, we know that’s never easy but we got the right barrier draw and I think she can measure right up.

“It gives you options, you can use your gate and get her into a nice spot. If you’re drawing 19 it’s a hell of a long way out.”

Well Written completed a piece of work in New Zealand on Monday before travelling to Sydney on Tuesday evening, where she is being housed with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.

Marsh has previously enjoyed Group 1 success at Randwick, preparing Sofia Rosa to win the Australian Oaks in 2016.

Well Written was a $4.50 chance with TAB on Wednesday after confirming her Epsom credentials with an effortless first-up victory in the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie four weeks ago.

“To come and run in an Epsom she probably had to do that,’’ he said.

“Her runs at a mile in New Zealand have been very good so I think the mile is her pet distance.”

Well Written has raced just behind the speed in five of her seven victories, allowing Marsh to utilise the sharp turn of foot he believes is one of her greatest assets.

Marsh rates her victory in the NZB Kiwi in March among her strongest performances, with Well Written holding off subsequent Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Belle Cheval despite the race favouring horses settling further back.

“I don’t think we had all favours in the Kiwi, it was probably one of her better wins,’’ he said.

“They went very hard early and the first three around the bend were first (Well Written), second last and last and the last three finished second third and fourth so it really set it up for the backmarkers.

“She’s got abilities that a lot don’t have.

“She’s got a very good turn of foot and she’s sharp. She goes from hemmed up to sprinting through a small gap sharply. She can put herself in a race.”

Well Written will face a significant rise in opposition on Saturday, with dual King Charles III Stakes winner Ceolwulf and talented four-year-old Autumn Boy among her Epsom rivals.

Should she come through the race as expected, an even bigger assignment awaits in the $10 million Golden Eagle, where Sheza Alibi is among the leading contenders.

Marsh believes the four-week gap between the Epsom and Golden Eagle provides an ideal progression for his mare.

“You’ve got to take them on, this will be a very nice stepping stone for the Golden Eagle,’’ he said.