Australia: Ceolwulf, Autumn Glow square off in Epsom Handicap

Friday night Royal Randwick hosts one of the premier race cards of the Australian spring, featuring three Group 1 showdowns, the return of last year’s Epsom Handicap winner and a lucrative late-night betting opportunity for North American fans.

The card features three Group 1 races.  The featured eighth race is the Epsom Handicap (G1), a time-honored test over the Randwick mile. The ninth race, the Metropolitan Stakes, is a classic 1 1/2-mile staying contest. The Flight Stakes, run as the sixth on the card, features top 3-year-old fillies clashing over the mile.

The main event, the Epsom Handicap, is a blockbuster clash between a reigning champion and a rising star: Ceolwulf vs. Autumn Glow.

Last year’s winner Ceolwulf returns to defend his crown. Trained by Joe Pride and ridden by Chad Schofield, Ceolwulf is a proven Group 1 miler with a powerful finish and a strong record at Randwick. He’s aiming to join rare company by going back-to-back in the Epsom.

Ceolwulf comes into the race off of a third-place finish behind Fangirl in the 7 Stakes (G1) over the mile at Randwick on Sept. 20. A two-time Group 1 winner over the mile at Randwick, he has an ideal midfield draw. He is very experienced at the highest level and has shown a strong late kick in high-pressure races.

However, Ceolwulf faces challenges as well. The tempo and race shape could work against him and he concedes 12 pounds to Autumn Glow. Repeats are also rare, and the last horse to win two straight editions of the Epsom Handicap was Desert War, who did so in 2004 and 2005.

Trained by Group 1 master Chris Waller and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Autumn Glow is a lightly raced 4-year-old stepping up to elite company for the first time. She is unbeaten in six races, including three starts on good ground. She also drops in with just 116 pounds, a serious advantage in a handicap.

Autumn Glow comes into the Epsom Handicap off of a victory Sept. 13 in the 6 1/2-furlong Theo Marks (G2). She has a 12-pound weight advantage over Ceolwulf, who has to lug 128 pounds. Trained by one of Australia's most successful conditioners, she is peaking at the right time and should be suited by the fast-run mile at Randwick.

The task is not easy, however. The race is her first test at the Group 1 level. She starts from post 14, an awkward wide draw. And, she will have to navigate through a large field late.

Adding to the excitement, Friday night features a $10,000 guaranteed late Pick 4, covering the final four races at Randwick. The sequence begins with the seventh race on the card, the Premiere Stakes (G2). It continues through the Epsom Handicap and the Metropolitan Stakes and concludes with the 10th race, a benchmark 94 handicap. With two Group 1 races and deep, competitive fields, the late Pick 4 offers sharp bettors a real shot at a strong return.

Coverage of Friday night's card at Randwick begins at 10:05 p.m. EDT. The Randwick card will be broadcast on FanDuel TV, and it is also available through skyracingworld.com and the Sky Racing World app. Betting is available on all major ADW platforms including TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, HPIbet, WatchandWager, FanDuel and AmWager. Free past performances, expert tips, and live-stream access are available at skyracingworld.com.

Coverage of Randwick for Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by Sky Racing World.