There were 85 nominations weighted for the 149th running of THE STAR Epsom Handicap (Group 1) to be staged at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 4th October 2014.
This year’s edition of the Epsom Handicap (Group 1) will be run with a 52.0kg minimum weight, with no further allowances for three-year-olds below this 52.0kg weight.
The honour of topweight has been given to Sacred Falls (NZ) with 59.0kg. He is a three-time Group 1 winner and two time Doncaster Mile Champion in 2013 and 2014. He was asked to carry 56.5kg on a 53.0kg limit in the 2013 running of the Group 1- Epsom (1600m) and has since won the Group 1- Doncaster Mile and been placed in the Group 1- Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the Group 2 Crystal Mile, both races at Weight-For-Age.
Next in line are triple Group 1 winners Boban and Dissident with 58.0kg. Boban is looking to defend his title after winning the 2013 Group 1 Epsom (1600m) when carrying the 53.0kg limit weight. Since that victory he has won the Group 1 Emirates (1600m) carrying 57.0kg under handicap conditions and the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Weight-For-Age along with two other wins at Group 3 level.
Dissident contested the 2014 Doncaster Handicap as a three-year-old carrying the 51.5kg limit weight. Since weights were released for the Doncaster Mile, he has won the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) at set-weights and most recently winning the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), both races at Weight-For-Age.
Dual Group 1 winner and Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) placegetter, Foreteller (GB) is asked to carry 57.0kg.
Moment of Change and last start Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) winner Hawkspur have been allotted 56.5kg.
The 2013 Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) winner Rebel Dane and 2014 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and ATC Derby (2400m) winner Criterion (NZ) are next in line with 56.0kg.
The highest-weighted mare is Royal Descent on 55.5kg. She is a former winner of the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) and also been a runner up in the 2013 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Weight-For-Age, the 2014 Group 1 Doncaster Mile carrying 54.0kg on a 51.5kg limit weight and most recently running second in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) and the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), both races at Weight-For-Age.
Other prominent Group 1 winning mares include Commanding Jewel to carry 53.5kg and Lucia Valentina (NZ) with 53.0kg. Both mares are last start Group 2 winners.
There are three 3 year olds nominated for the 2014 Group 1 Epsom (1600m) Zululand, Scratch Me Lucky and Bold Circle, all will carry the 52.0kg limit weight.