After narrow misses in two features races, Brad Widdup has Icebath primed for Epsom glory

Not many horses have missed out on so much by so little, but gutsy mare Icebath can reverse those fortunes in Saturday’s TAB Epsom at Randwick.

Is there a horse that deserves to win this Saturday’s $1.5 million Group 1 TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) more than Icebath?

She will head to Randwick this weekend with $2.3 million in prizemoney in the bank so it might be hard to feel too sorry for her connections.

But she’s lost two races worth $7.5 million and $3 million, both in photo finishes, in the past 12 months.

Had she stuck her nose out in the Golden Eagle and Doncaster Mile and won, an extra $3.75 million in prizemoney would have been sent her way.

Icebath (red, blue cap, inside) was narrowly beaten by Colette in the Golden Eagle last year. Picture: Grant Guy

The whole way through though, her trainer Brad Widdup has focused on the positives.

“Nothing is given to you in this game. I don’t know if ‘deserves’ is the word but she’s definitely up to it,” Widdup said.

“I can guarantee one thing. This has been a plan for a long time and she’s spot on.”

Icebath has ran less than two lengths off Private Eye, Chat and Epsom favourite Vangelic in three runs this time in.

But they’ve all been on Good-rated tracks.

It will be a whole different ball game on Saturday if the track is rain-affected and she surely won’t start at her current $9 price in a race that Widdup feels is starting to become as good as the Doncaster Mile.

“I think she’s definitely flying under the radar. They’re (punters) finding everything else in her races bar her which I don’t mind anyway,” Widdup said.

“I used to think that the Epsom was an easier race to win but until you win one you can’t say much. We used to think it was the poor cousin (of the Doncaster) but times have changed.

“It’s different from the old handicaps. There’s horses coming from overseas and there’s plenty of form lines so the Epsom is a tougher race to win now.”

Jockey Robbie Dolan has been booked to ride Icebath on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image

Robbie Dolan rides Icebath from barrier 14 and it will be the first time he’s ridden the Sacred Falls five-year-old.

“I’m not worried about the draw. If we drew inside it wouldn’t suit her,” Widdup said.

“Hopefully we can just land in a spot outside of horses with cover then we can get going when we like and not get held up for a run.”

In the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) on Saturday, Montefilia is set to start favourite.

She hasn’t won since taking out last October’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes which was eight runs ago.

But her trainer David Payne knows the two-time Group 1 winner hasn’t got a lot to prove.

“I’ve been training for 51 years so I don’t feel any pressure,” Payne said.

“I’ve been in this sport too long to feel pressure. It’s just my job to get them fit and if they’re good enough they win.

“She’s on top of her game so I’m not too worried. It should be her race. She just needs luck.”

Montefilia is favoured to claim a third Group 1 in Saturday The Metropolitan. Picture: Grant Guy

She ran second to She’s Ideel in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) two weeks ago but Bjorn Baker’s mare had 3.5kg less weight that day but only half a kilogram less on Saturday.

“She’s Ideel had the weight advantage and a track bias advantage in that race. You had to be on the rail. Let’s hope it plays fair this week,” Payne said.

Montefilia does have to do it out of barrier 17 but Payne is trusting Hugh Bowman to get the tactics right.

“I’ll just leave it to Hughie. She’s a big striding filly so I don’t think it’s a concern. There’s time for Hugh to work it out and there should be speed in the race,” he said.

“I’d like her to be midfield and a wet track might even be better for her. She’ll love it and it will slow some others down.”

Meanwhile, Chris Waller scratched his best horse Verry Elleegant from Saturday’s $1 million Hill Stakes in a blow to Randwick’s Epsom Day.

“We have decided that Verry Elleegant will run at Flemington on Saturday in the Turnbull Stakes, giving her the chance to settle in,” he said.

“Damian Lane gets the chance to ride her ahead of the Cox Plate.”

Originally published as After narrow misses in two features races, Brad Widdup has Icebath primed for Epsom glory