Fifteen Carat on trial for Epsom

By Glenn Davis

BRISBANE, Sept 2 AAP - Gold Coast trainer Howard Wilson won't judge Fifteen Carat harshly as an Epsom Handicap contender even if the gelding fails at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Wilson rates Fifteen Carat, who returns after a freshen-up in the Salt Design Handicap, as the best horse he's trained and will forgive the four-year-old if he fails to win over an unsuitable 1200 metres.

"He's nominated for the Epsom and he's having two runs here before he goes south," Wilson said.

"I think he's forward enough to run well over 1200 metres but he's got a big weight with 58 kilos.

"He won with 55 kilos last start and I didn't think he'd get that much weight.

"The 1200 metres might be too short for him but he'll need to win over 1350 metres at Doomben in two weeks time to warrant going down for the Epsom."

The Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) will be run at Randwick on October 2.

Fifteen Carat has been in work for the past month after resting for a fortnight following his narrow last-start win in the Listed Tatt's Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on July 24.

At his previous start Fifteen Carat won the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra on July 3 which followed his third to the Gerald Ryan-trained Rothesay in the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.

Fifteen Carat was also third in the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1400m) in May won by Beethog.

"He got too far back and was then held up for a run and should have won the Gold Coast Guineas," Wilson said.

Wilson has trained many top horses during his long career but has never had a Group One winner.

He rated Fifteen Carat as better than his 1991 Villiers Handicap winner Shining Wind and his previous best galloper Bassie's Pride who he trained early in her career.

"He's the best horse I've ever had," Wilson said.

"Bassie's Pride was my previous best horse until now and Shining Wind was a good horse who won a Villiers in Sydney.

"I had Bassie's Pride early in her career and she should have won the (Group One) Queensland Oaks.

"Lenny Hill rode her in the Oaks but an attendant had hold of her head at the start and she missed the start by more than four lengths."

Bassie's Pride, who had a number of trainers before finishing her career with George Hanlon in Melbourne, finished fifth, less than two lengths from A Little Kiss in the 1990 Queensland Oaks.

Fifteen Carat has earned more than $240,000 during his 15-start career which has yielded four wins and five placings, an excellent return on his $29,000 purchase price at the Magic Millions yearling sales.

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