2026 EPSOM HANDICAP: Preview & Tips
2026 EPSOM HANDICAP DETAILS
DATE: Saturday October 3
VENUE: Royal Randwick
DISTANCE: 1600m
CONDITIONS: Handicap
PRIZE MONEY: $1.5 million
The famous Randwick mile takes centre stage once again as a capacity field lines up for the 161st running of the $1.5 million Epsom Handicap.
The Epsom Handicap boasts a rich history dating back to 1865, when DUNDEE claimed the inaugural running. Apart from a one-off staging over 1400 metres on the Kensington Track in 2001 while the Randwick course proper was being reconstructed, the race has been run exclusively at a mile throughout its history. Since the introduction of the Group racing system, the Epsom Handicap has held G1 status, having previously been classified as a Principal Race.
Notable modern winners of the Epsom Handicap include AUTUMN GLOW (2025), PROBABEEL (2020), HARTNELL (2018), HAPPY CLAPPER (2017) and champion mare WINX (2015) with her victory delivering the first Sydney G1 win of her career.
A remarkable chapter in Epsom Handicap history belongs to SUPER IMPOSE, who carried a crushing 61kg to victory in 1991. The win was his fourth consecutive triumph over the mile, following successive Doncaster victories in 1989 and 1990 and an earlier Epsom success in 1990.
2026 TAB EPSOM HANDICAP - 1600M
1 X523 CEOLWULF Chad Schofield 59kg (7) $9
2 7X00 TOM KITTEN Adam Hyeronimus 57.5kg (4) $26
3 2X82 AUTUMN BOY James McDonald 55.5kg (1) $3.60
4 X644 IDLE FLYER Jason Collett 55kg (18) $12
5 2X44 LADY SHENANDOAH Tommy Berry 55kg (16) $15
6 11X1 WELL WRITTEN Zac Lloyd 55kg (3) $4.50
7 23X6 MILITARIZE Tim Clark 53.5kg (19) $61
8 0X23 ATTICA Kerrin McEvoy 51.5kg (6) $7.50
9 00X8 VIVY AIR Reece Jones 51kg (9) $101
10 X341 FULLY LIT Ms Winona Costin 51kg (8) $26
11 11X5 HELLSING Braith Nock (a) 51kg (12) $151
12 71X1 PERFUMIST Ms Rachel King 50kg (17) $34
13 3X32 MATCHA LATTE 50kg (15) $71
14 12X6 PANOVA 50kg (14) $71
15 31X6 PLYMOUTH Jackson Radley (a) 50kg (11) $151
16 23X5 GOD'S WINDOW Ms Siena Grima (a) 50kg (13) $34
17 5X31 DECLICHY BOULEVARD 50kg (2) $19 $19
18 9X04 ENCAP Ms Mollie Fitzgerald (a) 50kg (10) $101
19 X113 MR MILLER 50kg (5) $10
NIC ASHMAN'S SPEED MAP & ANALYSIS
"PERFUMIST has to come hurtling across but its a long run to the first turn so don't expect Rachel King to be in a hurry to find the fence especially if its wet as the ground will be inferior down there. WELL WRITTEN has to use her speed to hold a spot. AUTUMN BOY may try similar tactics - both could get cluttered up and forced to make their runs on the worst going.
Until we get a definitive track condition, its tough to analyse properly. I'll base what I'm doing on a genuine Soft (around a 7).
For mine the early play on a Tuesday arvo is MILITARIZE at $61. He placed in the Doncaster on a Soft 7, meets AUTUMN BOY 3kg better for a 1.7L defeat in that race. Map is good for him because he'll grab the back of IDLE FLYER and make his run off rail. The winter prep up north where he campaigned out to 2200m makes me think he should be ready to run a sneaky race second-up at monster odds."
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WHO'S HOT? — TRAINER/JOCKEY CHAT
Zac Lloyd, who arrives aboard WELL WRITTEN in outstanding form. Lloyd currently leads the NSW premiership with 34 winners from just 121 rides, producing an exceptional 28.1% strike rate that ranks him among the hottest riders in Sydney racing. Close behind is James McDonald on AUTUMN BOY, who has already partnered 26 winners this season at a strike rate of 23.6% from 110 rides, reinforcing his status as one of the premier big-race jockeys in the country. Meanwhile, Chad Schofield brings strong recent form to CEOLWULF, having recorded 16 winners this season with a solid 14.8% strike rate while already accumulating more than $1.6 million in prizemoney.
Chris Waller holds a powerful hand in the race with 7 runners, including AUTUMN BOY, LADY SHENANDOAH and MILITARIZE, reinforcing his position as the dominant force in Sydney racing. Joseph Pride also looks well placed with CEOLWULF and ATTICA, both arriving with strong recent form, while Bjorn Baker brings an in-form PERFUMIST off a first-up victory and looks capable of making an impact. These are the stables that appear to hold the strongest cards heading into the Epsom.
EPSOM HANDICAP TRENDS, STATISTICS + FAVOURITES RECORD
Since 1991, Favourites have won 10 editions of the famous Randwick mile, including the last two runnings. A $100 investment on the Favourite each year since 1991 would have returned $3,618, delivering an overall profit of $218. Market confidence has generally been a strong guide, with 13 of the past 15 winners starting at $9.50 or shorter, and 10 of those sent out at $6.50 or less. The last runner to salute at double-figure odds was ELLSBERG at $16 in 2022.
Barrier draws tell a fascinating story. While conventional wisdom often favours an inside gate, 10 of the last 15 winners have jumped from Barriers 10 to 16, including the past two winners. Position in running is also important, with 17 of the last 34 winners settling within the first six at the 800m mark, a trend that strengthens further when noting 7 of the last 9 winners were in the top six at that stage.
Age continues to be a defining factor. 23 of the last 34 winners have been 4YOs, including 6 of the last 8. Mares have found success much harder to come by, with only 4 victories in the past 35 years, although AUTUMN GLOW broke that trend with her victory last year.
Weight remains a balancing act. 15 winners since 1991 carried 52.5kg or less, though recent editions have favoured runners with a little more weight, with 8 of the last 11 winners carrying 54.5kg or less. The last horse to win carrying 57kg or more was HARTNELL in 2018. Recent form is another key indicator. 16 winners since 1991 finished in the quinella at their previous start, while 12 of the last 14 winners had placed in their lead-up run, highlighting the importance of arriving at the Epsom in peak form.
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WHAT HISTORY SAYS WINS
✓ Single digit odds
✓ Wide barrier
✓ Front of the pack
✓ Placed last start
✕ Not a Mare
2026 BEST FIT: #8 ATTICA $7.50
ATTICA ticks plenty of the right boxes. He comes off a last-start placing, carries a featherweight 51.5kg, and despite not drawing wide, his racing pattern gives him every chance to find clear air and build momentum. At around $7.50, he's comfortably within the historical sweet spot for winners fitting this profile.
2025 EPSOM HANDICAP RESULT
1ST AUTUMN GLOW $1.75
2ND FULLY LIT $31
3RD PERICLES $7.50
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