Epidemic adds to family honours with Listed win

Epidemic established herself in what is becoming an illustrious family when she successfully stepped up to Stakes company in Saturday’ Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The sister to dual G1 winner Impending had won restricted races at her previous two starts and showed she was a filly with a future with a victory achieved against the prevailing track conditions.

A daughter of Darley’s ever-reliable stallion Lonhro and the two-time G1 winner Mnemosyne who was also raced by Sheikh Mohammed, Epidemic is a sister to Impending, who a week earlier won his second G1 in the Godolphin colours.

While Impending is the star of the family, Epidemic showed she was a worthy member with a win that seemed unlikely with 50m to run.

“She’s such a determined filly, she really knuckled down and finished it off,” said assistant trainer Paul Reid.

“With that win she’s really created a future for herself.”

From an unsuitable inside gate Epidemic settled in midfield and in the worst going.

Coming to the home turn she slipped through inside several runners and at the 200m set out after the leader Pomelo.

Cassidy was unable to get to the better ground and Epidemic had to draw on previously unexposed ability to get the better of Pomelo and win by a head.

“She’s got a lot of quality, she’s strong and she’s got a great will to win,” Cassidy said.

“We got stuck close to the inside, so it was an even better effort than it might have looked.”

As well as adding to her own record, the win enhanced that of Impending who has the final run of his career in next week’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap before joining his sire Lonhro at stud.