Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher feature prominently in Epsom Handicap nominations

Champion trainer Chris Waller won the Epsom Handicap last year and looks set to have a strong hand in the feature mile again.

Zougotcha is one of 18 Chris Waller-trained contenders for the Epsom Handicap. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Champion trainer Chris Waller’s quest for a sixth Epsom Handicap has seen him enlist an 18-strong team of contenders for next month’s Group 1 mile at Royal Randwick.

Nominations for the coveted mile were released on Tuesday with Waller’s stable taking up close to a fifth of the 102 entries for the feature event.

Among them is multiple Group 1 winner Zougotcha ($15) as well as last year’s winner Rediener ($51), while the likes of Democracy Manifest ($26) and Kovalica ($26) are also in contention.

Ciaron Maher is chasing a maiden Epsom Handicap victory and has nominated 15 contenders.

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Rediener won last year’s Epsom Handicap. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

They are headlined by impressive last-start winner and second favourite Another Wil ($8), however it’s expected the gelding will line up a week later in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield instead.

Maher’s other contenders include Detonator Jack ($26), Southport Tycoon ($26) and Semana ($26).

Godolphin and trainer James Cummings have a small but select team with favourite Tom Kitten ($6) joined by Pericles ($15) and Zardozi ($26) while the latter also holds a nomination for The Metropolitan.

The Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) has attracted 76 nominations.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott won last year’s Metrop with Just Fine ($26) and the gelding is one of eight nominations from Tulloch Lodge with race favourite Eliyass ($6) also on the list.

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Just Fine captured The Metropolitan last spring. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Waller has 20 stayers nominated with dual Derby winner Riff Rocket ($15) and Land Legend ($15) among them.

Joe Pride has brilliant last start performer Ceolwulf in both The Metropolitan and Epsom Handicap and is set to decide after his next start what path he will take.

Boom filly Autumn Glow ($2.30 fav) headlines a healthy list of 43 nominations for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).

Last Saturday’s Furious Stakes winner Manaal ($4.50) as well as Silver Shadow Stakes victor Ameena ($8) are also in the running for the final leg of the Princess Series.

A full list of nominations can be found HERE.