<p>The Epsom Handicap, run over the famous Randwick “mile”, 1600m, is rich in history having been first run in 1865.&nbsp;</p> <p>Some of the famous names to win it include two-time winners Super Impose, Chatham and Amounis, along with champions Sky High, Chantal, Shannon, Desert War and, of course, the incomparable Winx.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year’s Epsom Handicap was won by the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf, who backs up for a place in history.&nbsp;</p> <p>Although this year’s Epsom Handicap may lack the depth of the past, the presence of the unbeaten favourite Autumn Glow and Ceolwulf makes it a most interesting and intriguing contest.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Epsom Handicap 2025 Preview and Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Track</strong>: Randwick..</p> <p><strong>Distance/type</strong>: 1600m. Handicap.</p> <p><strong>Date</strong>: Saturday, 4 October.</p> <p><strong>Total prize money</strong>: $1,500,000</p> <p><strong>First prize</strong>: $870,000</p> <p><strong>Epsom Handicap – Race and Time</strong>: Race 8 (4.10 pm)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Weather and Track</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 on Wednesday. The BOM is predicting fine and warm weather for the rest of the week. Bet on a Good surface.</p> <p><strong>The rail </strong>is true. The most recent Randwick meeting (Good 4) was on September 20 when the rail was out 7m (1600m-post) and out 4m (remainder). The track played fair. With fresh ground on the rail, play for a slight on-pace rails bias.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Trainers</h3> <p><strong>Chris Waller</strong> saddles favourite Autumn Glow. He has won five Epsom Handicaps, the most recent in 2023 with Rediener. Of course, he also won with the great Winx in 2015, and Autumn Glow, unbeaten in six starts, has been compared to Winx. Waller also has the bottom weight, Lord Penman, running for him.&nbsp;</p> <p>Waller’s five wins trails<strong> Gai Waterhouse</strong> (now training with<strong> Adrian Bott</strong>) who has trained a record-equalling seven Epsom winners. She shares the record with her late father Tommy Smith. Waterhouse (Fully Lit) hasn’t won an Epsom since Fat Al in 2012.</p> <p><strong>Joe Pride</strong> is chasing his third Epsom Handicap, and his second with last year’s winner Ceolwulf. Pride will also be represented by El Castello.<strong> Annabel Archibald</strong> trained Top Ranked to win in 2022 when she was training on her own in her maiden name, Neasham. Now in partnership with husband <strong>Rob</strong>, she will saddle Depth Of Character.</p> <p>The<strong> Hawkes family </strong>have one Epsom Handicap to their name. Patriarch,<strong> John Hawkes</strong>, trained Dodge to win in 1998, but he hasn’t scored one in partnership with his sons,<strong> Michael and Wayne</strong>. The enigmatic Swiftfalcon gives them a chance.</p> <p><strong>Richard Freedman </strong>(training with his son <strong>Will</strong>) will have great memories of his brother Lee training the champion Super Impose to win Epsoms in 1990-91. His runner, Magnatear, is an outsider.</p> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h3>The Jockeys</h3> <p>It’s nearly 140 years since Donald Nicholson rode his fifth Epsom Handicap winner, Espiegle, in 1884, but no jockey has won more in the long history of this great race.</p> <p>Of the 14 jockeys with a ride this year, only last year’s winne<strong>r Chad Schofield</strong>, veteran<strong> Kerrin McEvoy </strong>and<strong> Tommy Berry</strong> have won an Epsom Handicap. Schofield is chasing a bit of history trying to win back-to-back Epsoms on Ceolwulf.&nbsp;</p> <p>McEvoy, after many attempts, broke through for an Epsom win on Probabeel in 2020 and Berry has had a 12-year drought after winning on Fat Al in in 2012. McEvoy rides the hot favourite Autumn Glow, filling in for James McDonald, and Berry rides Willydoit.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Speed Map</h3> <p>Traditionally in a handicap of this class, with half the field carrying 51kg or less, you’d expect a genuine tempo over the famous Randwick mile.&nbsp;</p> <p>The go-forward horses that will be looking to lead will be<strong> Fully Lit</strong> and <strong>Magnatear</strong>, both will carry only 50kg. Expect <strong>Depth Of Character</strong>, <strong>Yellow Brick</strong> and <strong>Pericles </strong>to go forward.&nbsp;</p> <p>It will be interesting to see what Kerrin McEvoy will do on the favourite,<strong> Autumn Glow</strong>, from barrier 14. Trainer Chris Waller usually likes a patient ride from wide draws for his horses. It would be in <strong>Ceolwulf’s </strong>interests to be in front of Autumn Glow – chasing her down with 58kg will be tough.</p> <p>The back runners to watch are <strong>Pier</strong>, <strong>Willydoit </strong>and <strong>Swiftfalcon</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Point of Interest</h3> <p><em>Significant gear change</em>: As they often do for feature races, the Hawkes family have added blinkers for the first time to <strong>Swiftfalcon’s </strong>gear.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Carry that weight</em>: <strong>Ceolwulf </strong>will need to break a modern day weight-carrying record. No horse has won with more than 57kg since Super Impose carried 61kg to win his second Epsom in 1991.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Epsom Handicap 2025 Racing Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Epsom Top Tip&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong>Autumn Glow</strong></p> <p>Outstanding mare who is unbeaten in six starts. Dominant wins this preparation in the Toy Show (1100m) and the Theo Marks (1300m). Stepping to 1600m for the first time shouldn’t worry her. Barrier 14 gives her rivals some hope, but might give punters better odds. She should be winning.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Epsom Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Pericles</strong></p> <p>Looked exceptional winning the Tramway Quality (1400m) at Randwick at his first start for new trainer Bjorn Baker. The form from that race has stood up. Drawn to get the right run although he’s weighted to his best.</p> <p><strong>Ceolwulf</strong></p> <p>Ceolwulf won this race last year. He’s aiming to be only the eighth horse to win multiple Epsoms. The most recent was Desert War in 2004-05. He has to carry 4kg more and there’s a school of thought he’s not going as well. Trainer Joe Pride is an expert of peaking his horses at the right time. Trust Joe.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Swiftfalcon</strong></p> <p>Enigmatic horse who gets back in his races. Seems to run into trouble more often than not. The Hawkes stable has added “blinkers first time” to sharpen him up. Placed at Group 1 level in the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas in the autumn. Looks nicely weight on 50kg for a horse of his talent.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Epsom Roughies</h3> <p><strong>Pier</strong></p> <p>New Zealander with a big reputation. Impressed in Brisbane during the winter. Ran home well for third behind Autumn Glow in the Theo Marks (1300m) at Rosehill. He meets her 3kg better terms.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Willydoit</strong></p> <p>Ex-Kiwi now with Ciaron Maher. He won the G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March, but he looks like a horse that should be effective at 1600m. Nice first-up run in the Tramway. Don’t leave him out of your multiples.</p> <p><strong>Encap</strong></p> <p>For a horse that finishes his races strongly, surprisingly he hasn’t won beyond 1400m. Liked the way he’s been running on lately, and go on this third behind Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster Mile in April.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Epsom Handicap Same Race Multi (pick a combination)</h3> <p><strong>Autumn Glow </strong>– top two</p> <p><strong>Ceowulf &amp; Pericles</strong> – top three</p> <p><strong>Pier &amp; Swiftfalcon </strong>– top five</p> <p><strong>Willydoit &amp; Encap </strong>– top six</p>