While the outstanding Autum Glow has decided against a return to defend her Epsom Handicap title, the challenge remains significant for last year’s runner-up, Fully Lit, as he aims to improve his placing.
The feature mile race has attracted a strong field, boasting the presence of multiple Group 1 winner Ceolwulf, the undefeated New Zealander Well Written, and Chris Waller’s talented charge, Autumn Boy, a stablemate of Autum Glow.
Fully Lit’s co-trainer, Adrian Bott, believes this Saturday’s Epsom Handicap is one of the most open renewals in recent history, pointing to Autumn Boy as the horse to watch.
“He looks the obvious horse,” Bott said of Autumn Boy. “He’s coming through the right races, weight-for-age races, and he’s obviously a very talented horse as well. But it is a race with plenty of depth, and there’s more than just one chance in the race.”
Fully Lit has received a more tailored preparation for this Group 1 event this spring, and Bott is of the opinion that the horse is in superior form.
This assessment appears to be validated on the track, with Fully Lit having finished third in the Cameron Handicap (1400m) last year and winning it this time around.
Importantly, he had a busy campaign leading into the 2025 Epsom Handicap, but will be fourth-up in the race on Saturday.
“I feel he’s had a much better lead-up and much better, targeted preparation,” Bott stated. “He was ninth-up in the Epsom last year, so it’s a little bit more strategic this time around. He’d had a long-term spell prior to that last campaign, and he’s a horse that does so well it took him quite a while to reach his peak fitness, and (he struck) a few heavy tracks which he didn’t enjoy. This time around, it gives us a bit of confidence that the deeper we get into the campaign, the stronger we’re going to see him. He’s been very effective over this mile and still gets in very well at the weights.”
Fully Lit has finished second in both of his previous starts over 1600m, with both races taking place at Randwick.
He commenced from barrier seven last year and has drawn gate eight this weekend, with Winona Costin, who guided him in last year’s Epsom, again taking the reins.
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