Epona Stakes – 2024

Track: Soft  Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 14 runners plus 6 emergencies for the 2004 Bisley Workwear Epona Stakes. They are all mares with no fillies this year. There are eight 4YOs, nine 5YOs and three 6YOs. Fifteen of them had their last start in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality over 1600m at Randwick on 9th March (won by Lekvarte) and two in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over 1600m at Flemington on 9 March (won by Eternal Flame), while the other 3 came via different races. Two runners are sired by So You Think and two are sired by American Pharoah. Chris Waller has 4 runners, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have 2, Kris Lees has 2 and Joe Pride has 2.

The early favourite is Osmose who resumed to run 2nd in the Aspiration Quality and gets blinkers back on. Second favourite is Foxy Cleopatra who ran on strongly out wide for 3rd in the Aspiration and looks suited by the rise in trip. Third favourite is Little Mix who was 5th in the Aspiration and is a proven performer on a soft track. Thalassophile finished 1.7 lengths back in the Aspiration and is ready to peak third-up. Yankee Hussel won 3 in a row before finishing 13th in the Aspiration. Little Mix was 5th in the Aspiration and is a proven performer on a soft track, while Howgoodareyou was 6th in the Aspiration and goes well at Rosehill. The other runners are currently $12 or longer.

1. Thalassophile (15)

Finished 1.7 lengths 8th in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality over 1600m at Randwick on 9th March and is ready to peak third-up but has a tricky barrier.

2. Verona (20)

Drawn the extreme outside. Finished 3.6 lengths 7th over 2000m at Randwick when resuming on 2nd March. Not keen.

3. Pierossa (17)

Kept chasing to finish 7th behind Lekvarte when resuming and will enjoy the extra distance.

4. Rebel Rama (16)

Put in a huge run when she finished 0.8 length 3rd in the Group 3 Aspiration last start. Place chance.

5. Osmose (4)

Resumed to run 2nd in the Aspiration Quality and gets blinkers back on. Looks a genuine contender here.

6. Foxy Cleopatra (11)

Ran on strongly out wide for 3rd in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over 1600m at Flemington on 9 March and looks suited by the rise in trip. One of the main hopes.

7. Little Mix (18)

Was 5th in the Aspiration and is a proven performer on a soft track. Barrier 18 doesn’t help her.

8. So Dazzling (7)

Only beat one home in the Aspiration. This looks too tough.

9. Gan Teorainn (10)

Should improve on her first-up 14th in the Aspiration, but needs to.

10. Premise (6)

Bumped another runner and had a chequered passage but still managed to run 4th in the Aspiration. Will be putting her in my exotics.

11. Howgoodareyou (1)

Was 6th in the Aspiration and goes well at Rosehill. Ideally drawn and could surprise.

12. Ita (13)

Prefer in something easier.

13. Yankee Hussel (14)

Won 3 in a row before finishing 13th in the Aspiration. She was disappointed for a run and was never clear. One of the chances.

14. Principessa (3)

Hard mare to follow but did win over this distance 2 starts back. Not the worst.

15e. Podium Queen (2)

Prefer others.

16e. Blackcomb (19)

Drawn very wide. Prefer others.

17e. Mascaret (12)

This looks too hard.

18e. Rivaport (9)

Ran 4th  in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over 1600m at Flemington on 9 March (won by Eternal Flame). The extra trip should suit.

19e. Queenmaker (8)

Looking elsewhere.

20e. City Of Lights (5)

Chased hard when clear last start. Not the worst.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo Jackson’s Tips
5 Osmose
13 Yankee Hussel
4 Rebel Rama
10 Premise

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	5 Osmose
2nd	1 Thalassophile	0.39 length
3rd	18e Rivaport	1.02 lengths
4th	7 Little Mix	1.34 lengths

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings: 6. Foxy Cleopatra, 9. Gan Teorainn, 16e. Blackcomb, 17e. Mascaret, 19e. Queenmaker, 20e. City Of Lights.