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By Ray Hickson

Tasmanian jockey David Pires says believing he’s on a winning chance in his first ride at Royal Randwick over-rides any nerves he might have about partnering The Inevitable in the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom (1600m).

Jockey David Pires (Pic: Sharon Lee Chapman).

The 42-year-old has built a strong record on The Inevitable who proved himself an Epsom contender with a slashing first-up second in the Theo Marks earlier this month.

From seven rides Pires won six successive races in Tasmania on the eight-year-old last summer plus his third in the All Star Mile back in March.

The Epsom will, surprisingly, be just his second career Group 1 chance from closing on 7000 race rides. His first was another Tasmanian galloper Hela in the Australasian Oaks two years ago.

“I usually have a pretty good record on tracks I have first rides on,’’ Pires said.

“So I’m really looking forward to coming here and riding a horse I had a great association with before he went out for a spell.

“For me to be able to ride The Inevitable and be lucky enough for the owners to be supportive of me and put me back on I can’t thank them enough.

“It’s every jockey’s dream to ride in a Group 1 and I’m glad to get the opportunity.”

While Pires, who recently ticked over 1000 career wins, is new to Royal Randwick, The Inevitable is certainly no stranger having won the inaugural Silver Eagle back in 2019.

Since then he hasn’t won a race outside Tasmania but Pires said his second to Golden Mile in the Group 2 Theo Marks (1300m) three weeks ago, where Ryan Maloney rode, was a sign he’s right on target for the Epsom.

The gelding produced a dazzling last 600m of 32.39 (Punter's Intelligence) in the Theo Marks.

Pires said that’s an example of what the horse can do when he’s able to unwind and he drops to a weight he hasn't carried for three years.

“He’s a little superstar, there’s nothing much of him but he has a massive motor and massive stride and hits the line well,’’ he said.

“I think that’s his best attribute, the way he finishes off.

“You saw what he did in the Theo Marks and he drops from 59kg to 55.5kg in the Epsom and that’s big weight relief for him. The majority of times he races he carries 59kg and I can’t remember the last time he’s carried 55.5kg so he won’t know himself.

“I really liked the run. He did a bit of a wobble around the home turn which probably cost him the race but the way he finished off was incredible.

“He knows the track, he’s won on the track and hopefully he can make it two from two.”

The Inevitable drew barrier eight in the Epsom, he was $8 with TAB on Wednesday, and Pires said that’s ideal for him.

The Inevitable runs second in the Theo Marks at Rosehill

He wound up his preparation with a gallop over 600m at Bong Bong Farm on Tuesday morning and will be kept ticking over on the walker until race day.

“I wouldn’t mind a bit of pace on and then hopefully he can run over the top of them,’’ he said.

“He doesn’t like to be cluttered up because he’s only a little horse, he’ll probably get back worse than midfield and hopefully peel out around the home turn and we see that explosive finish.

“Momentum is a big part of his finish and if I can get out at the right time and get clear breathing room he’ll be very competitive.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting