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Promising colt Epaulette can kick off his autumn campaign with a win in today's rich Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes (race 6) in Canberra.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Commands colt, a half brother to classy stablemate Helmet, has won his only start and can stake his claims as a genuine Golden Slipper contender with another win in the nations capital today.
It won't be an easy task, though, as he not only takes on a crack line up of youngster but will encounter a rain affected track for the first time.
But the talented colt can keep his unbeaten record intact and claim another win today.
On debut, Epaulette started over 1200m at Rosehill and after a good getaway he strode forward and raced outside the leader.
Coming to the bend, jockey Kerrin McEvoy clicked up a gear and he kicked away to score a 1.3 length win over Sherocksmyworld.
Snowden decided that was enough for the summer so sent the colt for a break and he resumes here after 77 days off.
But in the meantime, though, he has trialled to have him ready for today's assignment.
That was on the Kensington track at Randwick over 850m and he won that by a length over Danaura.
He rates well on his debut win but is expected to have come on as he is aimed at the juvenile races of the autumn carnival.
From gate seven McEvoy should be able to camp just off the speed and with a good run he looks hard to hold out in today's rich race.
The Gai Waterhouse stable is represented by Later Gator in the race and the filly looks the biggest danger.
The More Than Ready filly made her debut on heavy ground at Canterbury last month and started generous odds in the end as she had little trouble accounting for her rivals.
Drawing the second outside gate, she jumped well and quickly crossed to the lead where she travelled well to the corner.
She then took off straightening and put a winning break between her and her rivals, scoring by four lengths in the run home.
The filly, be again be ridden by Tom Berry, has drawn ideally in gate two where she can either lead or sit close enough to it if anything is desperate to find the fornt.
She rated well on her debut effort and will take running down again.
Like Epaulette and Later Gator, Cavalry Rose is unbeaten coming into today's race but she has had an extra run on the other pair.
Prepared by Gerald Ryan, the filly made her debut in a rich Inglis race at Rosehill and although green ran on well to score a head win over Diamond Earth.
She then returned there three weeks later and again proved too classy, sitting closer in the run but winding up strongly to score by three quarters of a length over Jade Marauder.
With two wins under her belt she has the most successes of this field so is well placed under the set weights conditions and she has handled a soft track in her latest win.
The filly is a little awkwardly drawn but she should be positioned off the speed and getting home hard.
The John O'Shea trained Faustus has won his only start and looks a strong each way hope.
Scratched form Warwick Farm yesterday and saved for this, Faustus made his debut over 1100m at Rosehill last spring and after sitting fourth in the run worked home strongly to score.
He has been given time since but is fitter for a recent trial when a narrow second over 900m at Rosehill last month.
From barrier three he should enjoy a good run and although unknown on raceday on soft ground he did get through the conditions of the trial well.