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By Ray Hickson

It’s been a decade since Tulloch Lodge last held the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) trophy aloft and given the conditions co-trainer Adrian Bott says the lightly raced Cross Talk is the stable’s best chance of a record breaking win.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Gai Waterhouse equally holds the Epsom record with her legendary father TJ Smith, moving to seven wins when Fat Al won the race in 2012.

While stablemate Converge has the Group 1 profile there are doubts over his effectiveness on a heavy track and with Cross Talk’s penchant for wet ground Bott said the up and comer will get his chance with 51kg.

“He loves the conditions and depending on how it is playing on the day he is one that could take advantage of his light weight,’’ Bott said.

“Converge is obviously much more effective on top of the ground.

“He did win on a heavy 10, I’m not saying he’s hopeless on it, but from where he’s been at this preparation I’d love to see him on top of the ground.

“With top weight (56.5kg) in a handicap you’d like all the conditions in your court.”

Just three months ago Cross Talk was racing in Benchmark 78 company but he vaulted into Listed grade with a runaway Winter Challenge win at Rosehill on July 30.

Placings in the Rowley Mile and last start’s gutsy third behind Top Ranked in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m) two weeks ago have earned him a Group 1 shot much earlier than predicted and as a $7.50 chance with TAB on Friday.

Bott said his Bill Ritchie run was outstanding, after chasing a hot speed up front he was left a sitting shot when he hit the lead at the 300m and stayed on to be beaten two lengths.

“He was very brave. There was a fair bit of pressure, he stuck on well but that early pressure told,’’ Bott said.

“He has a nice light weight, he’s been up a while but he is looking well and training well.”

As Bott mentioned, Converge is a winner on a heavy 10 and that was in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas over the Epsom course back in March where he accounted for Anamoe.

He started $8.50 in the Doncaster on a heavy track but failed to fire and he hasn’t been effective in two runs back this spring, finishing last behind Anamoe in the George Main.

That Randwick Guineas win was third-up and Bott is adamant the gelding is in good order at home.

“He had to go back last start from an awkward draw, we couldn’t see him on the map getting in anywhere,’’ he said.

“From barrier one he can put himself in more of a position to advantage. He peaked third-up last time around and we tried to follow a similar type of program that will see him improve all the way through.”

Chris Waller has won four of the nine Epsoms since Waterhouse’s last win and he’s sending three classy mares into the Group 1 in Fangirl, Hinged and Kiku.

Given the heavy conditions and the weights he says it’s advantage Hinged as she’s proven in the ground and has ‘beaten the handicapper’ with just 51.5kg.

Hinged finished third behind Anamoe in the George Main (1600m) two weeks ago after leading and meets Fangirl 2.5kg better for beating her home.

“She’s all of a sudden the talk horse and she looks well suited,’’ Waller said.

“She’s won her own Group 1, she was placed in the Flight Stakes as an early three-year-old, she’s been placed in the Coolmore against older mares and the other day at weight-for-age.

“She has the right credentials to be winning an Epsom with 51.5kg.”

Waller said Fangirl won’t be as suited if Randwick remains heavy, she’s been unplaced in all three attempts, but is confident, ridden a little more quietly, she can produce the kind of run that saw her chasing Anamoe home in the Winx Stakes first-up.

“I’m hoping she can bounce back. I was disappointed but not disheartened,’’ he said.

Cross Talk runs third in the Bill Ritchie

“Maybe we’re riding her too close, maybe she needs a better track. It wouldn’t surprise me either of those two so she could definitely bounce back, she’s working well.

“She’s better on soft or better so we’re keeping an eye on the track.”

Like the champion Winx in 2015, Kiku is coming off a win in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) and she’s another Waller has no concerns about the ground for.

The five-year-old has been in the finish in all five second-up attempts and a cold ride can be expected from the outside alley.

“She’s come back well, she had a Queensland prep so she only needed the one run to be ready to go,’’ he said.

“She’s drawn wide but in a small field I don’t think it will be much of an issue.”

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