Epidexios set to shine

ASTUTE trainer Brendan McShane is predicting a bright future for lightly raced gelding Epidexios following his impressive maiden win 1200m in Hobart yesterday.

Epidexios ($15) was well backed and never let his supporters down as he improved from a slow start to be handy to the leaders turning for home.

When rider Mehmet Ulucinar asked for the big effort, he delivered in style to score comfortably from Silent Savings and Gee Gee Runaway.

McShane said the fouryear-old had always shown promise but had been slow to learn as a young horse.

“We bought him as a weanling but we’ve had to take out time with him because he just wasn’t switched on enough as a young horse,” McShane said.

“We tried him as a twoyear-old, but after one start we tipped him out for 12 months.

“But from four starts at his next prep, he was still immature so we sent him back to the paddock and we started again.

“But this time in, he has really matured and furnished into a very nice horse and his attitude to racing is where it should be.

“We paid $16,000 for him at the Inglis Broodmare and Weanling Sale in Melbourne and I’d say we will definitely get more than our money back.

“That was his first start for 13 months, so he is going to improve many lengths on that effort, although I had him fit enough by giving him three jump-outs leading up to the race.” TALENTED four-year-old Mandela Effect is likely to have his next start in Victoria following his impressive win in a benchmark 70 handicap over 1400m.

Mandela Effect ($1.50 fav) settled near last, but when rider Ismail Toker called on the Scott Brunton-trained gelding for the big effort, he quickly rounded up the leaders. He went on to score by 1½ lengths from Trusted Warrior ($6.50), with Osborne ($10) more than two lengths away ahead of race leader Cranbrook ($6). It was Mandela Effect’s third win from eight starts and he is starting to live up to his trainer’s expectations.

“The plan is to take him to Melbourne for his next start some time in July,” part-owner Ross Burridge said.