Autumn Glow’s extreme 2025 Epsom Handicap draw
Barrier luck has gone against Autumn Glow as she prepares for her first Group 1 test, drawing widest of all in barrier 14 for Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
The unbeaten mare will be striving to become just the fourth mare in 50 years to win the Epsom, though recent history has favoured them, with Secret Admirer, Winx and Probabeel all successful since 2011.
McEvoy keeps the ride at 54.5kg, with trainer Chris Waller confirming James McDonald will partner Via Sistina in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Waller has two runners in the 14-horse field — Autumn Glow and Lord Penman — and is chasing his sixth win in the race. Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth is full of confidence the mare is primed to deliver.
“It always makes it harder, but she’s a good horse,” Duckworth said.
“She’s terrific. She obviously had that exhibition gallop on Saturday at the races and bounced through that.
“She was just literally doing too well. She’s bouncing out of her skin. She’s ready to explode, it’s her first crack at a Group One, but she deserves it.”
Autumn Glow has opened a dominant $1.80 favourite, an even shorter price than Winx started when she won the 2015 Epsom carrying 57kg.
Waller’s weekend assault includes strong chances across the feature Group 1s at Randwick and Flemington. Among them is Birdman, the $5 favourite for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m), despite an awkward draw of barrier 17.
The Kingston Town Stakes winner will again be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, with Duckworth confident the gelding is on track.
“Running at the set weights race meant he was exempt from having a penalty, terrific job to get that win and still get in with a nice light weight,” Duckworth said.
“2400 metres will be a massive positive, just an awkward draw, Kerrin is going to need to be good.”
Waller has twice completed the Epsom/Metropolitan double, most recently in 2019 when he also claimed the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Those looking to bet on the Epsom Handicap should compare Australia’s top betting sites and leading online bookmakers for the best value.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...