The 2-year-old Dundeel colt Epimeles will likely jump straight to stakes company after making an impressive career debut in the Sportsbet Fast Form Hcp (1300m) at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
Ridden by John Allen for Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Epimeles found himself locked in on the fence behind the leader Invincible Beau in the five-horse field. When that son of Brazen Beau rolled off the fence, Epimeles quicked impressively to defeat the Saxon Warrior debutant Signor Bill by one and three-quarter lengths with a further two lengths back to Invincible Beau.
“He looked like he would be stiff for room, but when Robbie Lang’s horse came out, we got a nice rails run,” Natalie Young said.
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“We have a high opinion of him but thought he might be exposed with just two 800m jumpouts.
“It’s great for Seymour Bloodstock. We have been rapping this horse up for a little while now.
‘The Anzac Stakes over 1400m may be a nice race, three weeks between runs. We will see how he pulls up and then make a plan.”
Ohukia Lodge/Mark Pilkington Management (FBAA) purchased Epimeles out of the Evergreen Stud Farm draft for $130,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Apicius, a three-quarter sister to the Champion Griffin in Hong Kong in 2014-15, Thewizardofoz and a half-sister to stakes winner Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) and Group III-placed Key (Exceed And Excel).
Apicius is a daughter of Vanilla Empress (Lonhro) a half-sister to multiple Group III winner Argentia (Frankel) out of the Champion 3YO Filly in NZ. Champion Older Female & Stayer in NZ, 4-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago).
Apicius has a yearling colt by So You Think, who left the ring unsold at the Adelaide Magic Millions after failing to find a buyer willing to meet his $50,000 reserve.
After foaling an Ole Kirk filly last spring, the daughter of Redoute’s Choice was covered by Maurice (JPN).
