Epsom Handicap contender Drumbeats has come a long way in 12 months and it hasn't always been an easy ride.The son of star sire Redoute's Choice will fly the flag for Darley trainer Peter Snowden in Saturday's Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick, a year after finishing runner-up to Montana Flyer in the Roman Consul Stakes on the corresponding program.The four-year-old has had just four starts since, two of those in Melbourne last spring.He finished runner-up to subsequent Australian Gui

Epsom Handicap contender Drumbeats has come a long way in 12 months and it hasn't always been an easy ride.

The son of star sire Redoute's Choice will fly the flag for Darley trainer Peter Snowden in Saturday's Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick, a year after finishing runner-up to Montana Flyer in the Roman Consul Stakes on the corresponding program.

The four-year-old has had just four starts since, two of those in Melbourne last spring.

He finished runner-up to subsequent Australian Guineas winner Heart Of Dreams at Caulfield and broke through for a stakes win at Flemington during last year's Melbourne Cup carnival.

But autumn plans for Drumbeats had to be abandoned when the entire was struck down by a virus.

"You don't always know how it will affect them long-term but he's come through it well and he's fine now," Snowden said.

Drumbeats resumed with an encouraging second to Patronyme over 1400m on September 5 before a courageous short half-head victory over Epsom rival Rangirangdo in the Shannon Stakes (1500m) last Saturday week.

He steps up to 1600 metres for the first time in the Epsom, one of Randwick's three 'big mile' races and renowned as a searching test of a thoroughbred's capabilities.

Many believe it takes a horse who can perform over 2000 metres to win at the Randwick mile but Snowden has no qualms about Drumbeats handling the journey on Saturday.

"He's ready to run 2000 metres," Snowden said.

"He was only second-up in the Shannon so he will definitely improve a bit from that."

Snowden was foreman to John Hawkes when he won the 1998 Epsom Handicap with Dodge and was straight to the point when asked what sort of horse it takes to win a Group One handicap at Randwick.

"A good one," Snowden said.

The Epsom's honour roll suggests as much.

Theseo claimed the feature last year before making an impact on the Melbourne spring carnival.

Racing To Win was successful in 2006, grand campaigner Desert War won it in consecutive years in 2004-05 while the likes of Shogun Lodge (2000) and Filante (1996) also feature.

The final field for Saturday's version will be declared on Wednesday and with original topweights Tuesday Joy (retired) and Vision And Power (not running) not there, weights will have to be raised in order to reach the 57kg minimum topweight with either Mentality (55.5kg) or Triple Honour (55kg) set to carry the number one saddlecloth.

The Epsom is one of four Group One races on the program and Snowden will get two chances to claim one of the majors.

He will be represented in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) by Heraklion.