Eptimum wins the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes
After being unplaced at his only start at two in Brisbane, the Gold Coast-trained gelding Eptimum made the trek south to earn wins at Ballarat and Bendigo before making it three on the trot in Saturday’s Group III Telstra Phonewords (Red Anchor) Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Drawing the outside barrier, Eptimum eased across to take up the running under Ryan Maloney and he was never really challenged from that point on.
After disposing of the heavily-backed Trekking before the home turn, Eptimum came home alone. He was three lengths too good for Single Bullet who finished well without threatening with Trekking a further two and a quarter lengths back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).
“We’ve got another Houtzen here”, Maloney said.
“He’swork has been first-class and I came here with a lot of confidence.
“He flew the lids, I had to do a bit of work but he switched off beautifully in the middle stages and he was just too good.”
With his first stakes win, Eptimum advances his record to 3 wins from 4 starts with earnings of $141,050.
Winning trainer Toby Edmonds said the son of Snitzel was right up there with the best in the barn.
We’ve got four horses, including Houtzen andWhypeo, and there’s been very little between them from day one.
“He’s been a little bit behind them due to maturity, so we brought him down here to do try to do that so it’s great result.”
A $200,000 purchase by his trainer from the Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Eptimum is the third foal of the winning Monashee Mountain mare, Paramount, who is a sister to Group 1 QTC Stradbroke Handicap winner La Montagna.
Lauriston Thoroughbred’s purchase Paramount as a yearling for $220,000.
She has a Not A Single Doubt 2yo filly that was purchased by Aquis / Blue Sky Bloodstock for $120,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Paramount has a yearling colt by So You Think and foaled a filly by Press Statement on October 17.
Eptimum becomes the 74thstakes-winner for Snitzel who marches relentlessly on to defend his champion sire title.
