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Oberon looking for Epsom fairytale

After a narrow second in the Doncaster, My Oberon will attempt to go one better in another famous Randwick mile.

Trainer : ANNABEL NEASHAM.
Trainer : ANNABEL NEASHAM. Picture: Steve Hart

It has been a tough start to the week for Annabel Neasham, but her luck could turn for the better when she bids for back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. 

Neasham confirmed on Tuesday that Sunshine In Paris had suffered a leg injury which, while minor, had forced the mare's withdrawal from next month's $20 million The Everest (1200m). 

However, the stable has some handy arsenal on Saturday headed by My Oberon, who will be shooting to give Neasham an outright win in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) after former barn mate Top Ranked dead-heated for first with Ellsberg 12 months ago. 

Formerly trained by William Haggas in England, My Oberon arrived in Australia last spring as a dual stakes winner and was quickly pigeon-holed as a wet tracker with his two best performances coming on heavy ground, including a first-up win in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley. 

But he has shown another string to his bow this preparation, finishing an eye-catching sixth in soft 5 conditions in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) and again performing solidly when fourth to Think It Over on a good surface in the 7 Stakes (1600m). 

Significantly, My Oberon's brace of black-type victories overseas were both on firm tracks and Neasham's racing manager Rob Archibald felt the gelding had returned a more rounded horse this campaign. 

"He does appreciate a bit of give in the ground for him to be at his best, but he's a lot more seasoned this time around and seems to have acclimatised better to Australian conditions," Archibald said. 

"His two runs have been very good on good tracks and back in Europe he coped really well on good tracks as well. 

"I think he's just in a really good place, physically and mentally, and we're seeing him run consistently. 

"He's in good order, he's third-up for the preparation and he's ready to run a big race." 

My Oberon ($21) has drawn barrier 18 but double-figure alleys haven't been a major negative in recent years, providing 12 of the past 19 Epsom winners including Theseo, who jumped from the same gate in 2008. 

The Epsom has changed complexion in the past 24 hours with the scratching of favourite Pericles, who was found to have blood in a nostril after a trackwork gallop on Tuesday. 

Hope In Your Heart is the new top pick at $7 in an open betting race.


Racing and Sports



Randwick Saturday, 30th September 2023

7f210y TURF GOOD
AUD $1,507,500

TAB EPSOM (G1)

AUD $1,507,500
Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
7f210y TURF GOOD
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 17. REDIENER (AUS) 4yo G
REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - WIENER (AUS)
KATHY O'HARA
CHRIS WALLER
$9.5
50kg
Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: N R J Werrett) & Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: M J Whitby)

Sales Information

2nd 10. KOVALICA (NZ) 4yo G
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - VITESSE (NZ)
JOAO MOREIRA
CHRIS WALLER
$10
54kg
N Morgan & D Devine

Sales Information

3rd 6. GOLDEN MILE (AUS) 4yo H
ASTERN (AUS) - CALAVERITE (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
JAMES CUMMINGS
$16
55kg
Godolphin
4th 18. BARBIE'S FOX (AUS) 7yo M
FOXWEDGE (AUS) - SO BARBIE SAYS (AUS)
DEAN YENDALL
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES
$51
50kg

Sales Information

5th 16. DEMOCRACY MANIFEST (AUS) 5yo G
FLYING ARTIE (AUS) - SLIPPERY SATIN (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
CHRIS WALLER
$9
51.5kg

Sales Information

6th 8. HOPE IN YOUR HEART (AUS) 5yo M
DUNDEEL (NZ) - HAYAAT (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
KERRY PARKER
$7.5
54kg

Sales Information

7th 1. MY OBERON (IRE) 6yo G
DUBAWI (IRE) - MY TITANIA (IRE)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$21
56kg

Sales Information

8th 3. THE INEVITABLE (AUS) 8yo G
DUNDEEL (NZ) - GIFT BOUQUET (AUS)
DAVID PIRES
JOHN KEYS
$9
55.5kg

Sales Information

9th 21. WILLIAMSBURG (AUS) 4yo H
SNITZEL (AUS) - FENWAY (AUS)
ANDREW ADKINS
G RYAN & S ALEXIOU
$31
50kg

Sales Information

10th 11. NUGGET (GB) 6yo G
SIYOUNI (FR) - GEMSTONE (IRE)
DAMIEN OLIVER
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$7.5
54kg

Sales Information

11th 12. POUNDING (AUS) 5yo G
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - SILENT ENTRANCE (GB)
JAMIE KAH
PETER G MOODY & KATHERINE COLEMAN
$10
54kg

Sales Information

12th 9. DIAMIL (IRE) 5yo G
AWTAAD (IRE) - DIYLAWA (IRE)
JASON COLLETT
JOHN O'SHEA
$91
54kg

Sales Information

13th 5. CONVERGE (AUS) 5yo G
FRANKEL (GB) - CONVERSELY (IRE)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$11
55kg
14th 7. KIRWAN'S LANE (NZ) 7yo G
CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) - GALWAY (NZ)
TOM SHERRY
JOHN O'SHEA
$51
54.5kg

Sales Information

15th 13. COMMUNIST (AUS) 4yo G
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (AUS) - CAPPADOCIA (AUS)
DYLAN GIBBONS
MICHAEL FREEDMAN
$19
53.5kg

Sales Information

16th 22. POLITICAL DEBATE (AUS) 4yo H
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - NAKATAAN (NZ)
RACHEL KING
CHRIS WALLER
$201
50kg

Sales Information

17th 15. MADAME POMMERY (AUS) 4yo M
NO NAY NEVER (USA) - CANCEL (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
CHRIS WALLER
$41
51.5kg

Sales Information

18th 4. GOING GLOBAL (IRE) 5yo M
MEHMAS (IRE) - WROOD (USA)
JAMES MCDONALD
CHRIS WALLER
$26
55kg

Sales Information

today's racing

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