Mr Epic will be having his first attempt at 2000m on Saturday
A step up in distance could lift talented gelding Mr Epic back to the winner’s circle at Doomben.
Mr Epic will be having his first attempt at 2000m in Saturday’s Ernst Open (2030m).
The four-year-old has won seven races and $373,000 prize money but hasn’t won since leading all the way over 1600m at Eagle Farm in September.
At his most recent start he was a sound third behind Sheiswhatsheis and Pindan Pearl in an open handicap over 1600m at Doomben where he finished six lengths from the winner at his third run back from a spell.
First-up Mr Epic ran third at the Gold Coast in a mid-week race and before finishing sixth in the Rockhampton Cup.
Trainer Toby Edmonds decided Mr Epic was racing like he would handle the 2000m as the open company middle distances races in Brisbane are only average in depth after the winter carnival.
He admitted Mr Epic had been struggling to regain his best form this campaign.
“He is paying the price for his consistency at the weights,” Edmonds said.
“We did think enough of him to take him to Melbourne last year where he ran fourth at Caulfield over 1700 metres.”
Edmonds might take Mr Epic, who is owned in the NSW Northern Rivers, to that area for some of the country Cups coming up in the next few months.
Apprentice Matt McGillivray will have a rare ride for Edmonds and his 1.5kg will reduce Mr Epic’s weight to 57kg.
Jim Byrne will ride topweight Loophole who makes his Brisbane debut in the open handicap.
The Chris Waller trained gelding is owned by Peter Tighe and Debbie Kepitis who make up two-thirds of the partnership in champion Winx.
Loophole has won eight races including four at Saturday’s distance.
The Kim Waugh-trained King Viv was the TAB’s $3.10 favourite on Friday ahead of Mr Epic at $5 while Loophole was at $15.
