The Waller stable has a team of seven for the $1m, Group 1 Tab Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday and on Tuesday two of the stable’s leading contenders, D’Argento and Unforgotten, drew barriers one and three respectively.
Both these Group 1 winners have reached the famous Randwick spring mile with little weight, good lead-up form and proven ability at the top-level.
D’Argento, with 53.5kg under James McDonald, won the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over 1600m in March.
The stable sent the So You Think entire out to resume behind champion stablemate Winx in her race, the Group 1 Winx Stakes over 1400m back in August and he was third. Then it was forward to a Winx free Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes over 1300m at Rosehill on September 8th. Carrying 56kg under the set-weights conditions he was second to Godolphin’s Home Of The Brave (IRE).
Unforgotten, the winner of the Group 1 ATC Oaks over 2400m last autumn, was sixth in the Winx Stakes. Then the Fastnet Rock mare went forward to the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on September 1st. Carrying 56.5kg under the weight-for-age conditions the mare defeated the field with 1 1/4L in hand.
On Saturday Unforgotten carries 52.5kg under Kerrin McEvoy.
The other Waller stable entries are Shillelagh (NZ); Single Gaze; Mister Sea Wolf (USA); Religify; Tom Melbourne (IRE); and second emergency Paret.
The latest TAB.com.au market for the Epsom Handicap:
$4 D’Argento
$4.50 Unforgotten
$5 Pierata
$11 Siege Of Quebec
$15 Lanciato
$17 Hartnell and Shillelagh
$21 Champagne Cuddles
$26 Arbeitsam and Tom Melbourne
$35 New Tipperary, Invictus Prince, Muraaqeb and Paret (2E)
$51 Mister Sea Wolf
$71 Single Gaze, Red Excitement and Radipole
$101 Duca Valentinois, Religify and Goodfella
$151 Nettoyer (1E)
Unforgotten, barrier three for the Epsom Handicap, picture Sportpix.com.au