Randwick Mile specialist Glen Boss is trumpeting the winning chances of Kolding in the Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Kolding, above, is the favourite for the 2019 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Kolding goes into the Epsom Handicap as a last start winner of the Group 3 $160,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on September 21 and with his lightweight of 50.5kg, is the ruling favourite at $5 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
“Kolding has got it all there to say he should run very well,’’ Boss told The Daily Telegraph.
“I think he is a good horse when under pressure and he gets into the Epsom with only 50.5kg, which is massive.
“Even longshots run well with lightweights in these big Randwick miles. I’ve seen horses with no form run second or third in Epsoms and Doncasters.’’
Kolding capped off his Winter campaign with a win in the Group 2 $350,000 Ascot Green Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 and then resumed for a first up fifth to Dreamforce for Hugh Bowman in the Group 2 $200,000 Harvey Norman Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 7.
Boss, who is chasing a fourth win in the Epsom Handicap, took over from Bowman in the Bill Ritchie Stakes but was impressed with the Chris Waller trained four year old’s effort in the Tramway Stakes.
“He had no luck behind the Dreamforce and Te Akau Shark in the Tramway, he virtually just cantered up behind the leaders that day, before he won the Bill Ritchie last start,’’ Boss said.
Kolding will jump from barrier twelve in the Epsom Handicap field that has been reduced to nineteen runners following the early scratching of the Kris Lees trained El Dorado Dreaming.
Tramway Stakes winner Dreamforce will jump from the outside gate with Nash Rawiller in the saddle and is on the third line of betting at $7.
Betting for the 2019 Epsom Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Kolding, $6 Rock, Te Akau Shark, $7 Dreamforce, $9.50 Cascadian, $11 Gem Song, $16 Star Of The Seas, $20 Best Of Days, $26 Unforgotten, Desert Lord, Junipal, $31 Fifty Stars, $34 Nettoyer, $51 Kaonic, Archedemus, $61 Mr Marathon Man, Mantastic, $71 The Candy Man, $101 Le Juge.
