Pat Webster believes gun miler Happy Clapper can lump top weight and beat those bearing a lighter burden in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
He knows what it is like to beat the handicapper in a big Randwick mile, after Webster did it a couple of years ago with Happy Clapper in the Villiers Stakes.
Since winning the 2015 Villiers with only 53kg, Happy Clapper has developed into the best horse in the country without a group 1 victory. But he has earned $2.4 million in compensation along the way.
His Randwick mile record since doesn't include another win, but it does feature the name Winx twice in the same field, and a series of group 1 placings.
Happy Clapper was runner-up in Winx's 2016 Doncaster, then fourth in last year's Epsom, before returning to the Randwick mile to run second in the Doncaster for the second straight year, this time to It's Somewhat.
He began this campaign with a dynamic Tramway win before recording a last-start group 1 runner-up finish in the George Main Stakes at Randwick, where he tested the champion mare Winx once more.
"I look at the weight and think 57kg is pretty fair for him because he has earned it," Wester said. "He is still good enough to win with it and that's why he's favourite.
"You look at the ones that are trying to get in light at the bottom of the weights, like Egg Tart and Comin' Through, they still have to prove it at this level.
"He has been there, done that. He might not have won a group 1 but as I said to my son, would you rather $2.4 million or a trophy on the mantelpiece.
"He has been doing it against the best horses around for a couple of years and going on his two runs, especially the George Main run, he is going as well as ever.
"My only concern is that Winx doesn't just beat them, she sometimes stuffs them. He took a couple of days to get over that run in the George Main but he is bright and ready to go."
The betting suggests it could be Happy Clapper, the $4.50 Sportsbet favourite, against the Chris Waller army with a half dozen horses from the premier stable filling the next five lines of betting.
Waller has Egg Tart, Comin' Through, Foxplay, Tom Melbourne, McCreery and Mackintosh set to run in the spring mile handicap.
Gerard Ryan has ruled out running Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist in the Epsom but is still open to backing up the impressive Shannon Stakes winner from Saturday, Washington Heights, in the group 1 with 50.5kg.
"He usually takes a few days to get over his runs but I will see how he comes through his run from Saturday and make a final decision on Tuesday morning," Ryan said.
Ryan could also have Red Excitement in the Epsom with 53kg but will wait to see the nominations for the Hill Stakes before making a decision.
"He raced little flat last time but has a habit of doing that third-up and then usually bounces back at his next run," Ryan said. "I just have to decide if the 1800m might be better for him than the mile now."
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