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Weights – THE TAB (Group 1) Epsom Handicap (1600m) (Saturday 30th September 2017)

A total of 89 nominations have been weighed for the 152nd running of THE TAB (Group 1) Epsom Handicap (1600m) to be staged at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 30th September 2017.

This year’s edition of the (Group 1) Epsom Handicap (1600m) will be run with a 50.0kg minimum weight and a 48.0kg minimum weight for 3 year olds with a total prizemoney purse of $1,000,000.

The honour of equal topweights has been given to equal 116 rated geldings Black Heart Bart, Humidor (NZ) and Le Romain with 58.0kg.

Black Heart Bart is a multiple Group 1 winner of the 2017 (Group 1) Futurity Stakes (1400m) and the 2017 Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m), the 2016 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and was the 2016 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) champion carrying 59.0kg under Weight-For-Age conditions.

He also won the 2016 (Group 1) The Goodwood (1200m) carrying 57.0kg. Black Heart Bart also ran two placing’s in the 2017 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at his most recent start.

Humidor (NZ) is a dual Group 1 winner of the 2017 Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and last start won the 2017 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) beating Black Heart Bart and Le Romain - both races carrying 59.0kg under Weight-for-Age conditions. Humidor (NZ) also ran 2nd in the 2017 Group 1 The BMW (2400m).

Le Romain is a multiple Group 1 winner of 2017 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), the 2016 Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) – the feature mile race of the Melbourne spring carnival - carrying 55.5kg under handicap conditions and the 2016 Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). Le Romain also ran 2nd in the 2017 Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and the 2017 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) behind champion mare Winx.

Next in line with 57.0kg is Vega Magic, who is a dual Group 1 winner of the 2017 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the 2017 Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m).

Recent Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) winner and Group 1 George Main Stakes runner up Happy Clapper has been allocated 56.5kg.

Other notable nominations are the 2017 Group 1 Doomben Cup winner (2000m) Sense Of Occasion along with Redkirk Warrior (GB) who recently won the Group 2 Bobby Lewis Stakes (1200m) and was a previous winner of the 2017 Group 1 Newmarket Stakes (1200m).

Both horses have been allocated 56.0kg.

The highest weighted mare is the 2017 Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) winner Foxplay with 54.0kg. Foxplay also ran 2nd to Winx in the recent Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) and placed behind Winx and Happy Clapper in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m).

Comin’ Through with 50.5kg is exempt from the ballot due to his win in the 2017 edition of the (Group 3) Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m).

Also gaining automatic entry for winning the 2017 (Group 2) Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) is Deploy with 54.0kg and the 2017 Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) winner Happy Clapper to carry 56.5kg.

There are six 3 year old colts nominated, The Mission, Invader, Trapeze Artist, Dracarys, Addictive Nature and Assimilate, all have been allocated 48.0kg, the minimum weight for 3 year olds.

Racing NSW Handicapping Panel (18 September 2017).

Check out the weights for the Epsom and Metropolitan at Royal Randwick on September 30