Ecuador has drifted out to 2015 Epsom Handicap odds of $31 and trainer Gai Waterhouse believes that the talented miler represents great value at his current quote for the Group 1 event that will be held at Royal Randwick tomorrow.
Ecuador has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Ecuador opened at a quote of $21 when the 2015 Epsom Handicap field was released earlier in the week, but there has been very little support for the son of High Chaparral and he has been one of the biggest drifters in betting.
The six-year-old missed over a year of racing after he finished fourth behind Messene in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) in March of 2014, but he made his long awaited return to racing with a very quiet second behind Rugged Cross in the TAB Rewards Royal Randwick Handicap (1400m) on April 18 and he returned to winning form in the Eremein Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 30.
Ecuador started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a close second behind Hooked in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 5 and he only knocked up late when fourth in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on September 18.
Waterhouse told Racing Ahead that Ecuador will take a great deal of benefit from the step-up to the mile as well as the bigger Royal Randwick track and she believes that he is well over the odds in Epsom Handicap betting.
“I am over the moon with Ecuador,” Waterhouse said.
“I don’t know if he can beat the top-weights, but he will give it a great show and anybody backing him will be very pleased.
“He is a very interesting horse because he always races at his best at Randwick.
“He is a bit of a worried horse and when he goes to the other track he falls to pieces.
“He has Boss on his back, he is timed to the moment and he is certainty great value.
“He will give the punters a great run.”
Waterhouse is chasing her eighth win in the Epsom Handicap after previously taking out the race with Iron Horse (1997), Excellerator (2002), Desert War (2004 and 2005), Theseo (2008), Rock Kingdom (2009) and Fat Al (2012).
Winx ($2.90) is currently a dominant favourite in the 2015 Epsom Handicap betting market with Ladbrokes from Sadler’s Lake ($7.50), Silverball ($8.50), Lucia Valentina ($8.50), Entirely Platinum ($9.50) and Rudy ($11).
