Epimeles kicks off Caulfield Guineas 2024 tilt

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are looking forward to the return of unbeaten three-year-old Epimeles who will commence his Guineas campaign at Moonee Valley.

A debut winner at Sandown last March and followed by a win at Listed level at Flemington the following month, Epimeles returns in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Busuttin and Young are planning an assault on the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) next month.

A minor set-back stopped Epimeles from commencing his campaign in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday, but it gave the training operation the opportunity to take the colt to The Valley on Tuesday for a first look at the track.

Epimeles galloped with Bjorn Baker’s Group 1 Moir Stakes aspirant Caballus and pleased Young with the workout.

“We were going to start him off in the McNeil, but I’m not sure we would’ve beaten Ciaron Maher’s horse (Growing Empire) anyway,” Young said.

“But it’s good for him to get here and have a really good run around the Valley.

“He’s a horse that’s a big strider and probably likes the big roomy tracks, but he’s a versatile horse.

“He’s got good gate speed and can sit up on speed or take a sit, and I’m really looking forward to getting him back to the track.”

Young said Epimeles tracked around Moonee Valley on his right leg after taking the opportunity to gallop the three-year-old at the Cranbourne racecourse on Saturday morning.

Cranbourne has similar dimensions to Moonee Valley and Young said it gave Epimeles the opportunity to gallop on a tighter track before heading to The Valley.

“He’s forward enough and fit enough,” Young said.

“He kicked off at 1300 metres last campaign and this is 1200, but he goes good fresh, and he’s one of our nicest three-year-olds.”

Young said the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 21 was the next likely assignment for Epimeles, provided the stable is happy with Saturday’s performance.

Epimeles has done the majority of his work with Daggers who is also unbeaten in two starts and is likely to head to the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington next Saturday.

“For a stable, we only have 80 in work, we’re very small in terms of the other stables but we always manage to get those horses up winning city races and getting them into the Group 1’s and Group 2’s,” Young said.

“It’s nice to have a nice team around you, and part of our business is us going and picking out horses at the yearling sales.

“That is something we really enjoy and love, and to see them contesting Group races it means we’re not too bad in the eye.”