Epidemic to arrive In G3 How Now Stakes

The building of a thoroughbred dynasty will resume at Caulfield on Saturday when the Godolphin filly Epidemic begins her spring campaign in the G3 How Now Handicap.

With five wins already on the board, Epidemic (Craig Williams) has shown herself to be a worthy member of a family that includes her brother, the multiple G1 winner Impending.

With Impending beginning his stud career this season, Epidemic is the only offspring of her dam, Mnemosyne in training.

As well as producing Impending and Epidemic, Mnemosyne’s second foal Forget (Exceed And Excel) was a G3 winner, her first, Eleuther (Commands) won in town as did Memorial (Street Cry) who was also G2-placed.

Mnemosyne herself was a top-class performer, her six wins including the G1 Thousand Guineas in 2005 and the G1 Flight Stakes the following year.

Epidemic’s trainer James Cummings is satisfied the daughter of Lonhro can add to a record that already includes a last-start victory in the Listed Coughlan Stakes at the Sunshine Coast in June.

“Last start she was extremely gutsy beating older mares,” Cummings said.

That was her third win on end and her trainer is plotting a spring course he hopes will take her to some of the better mare’s races on the calendar.

“She’s ready for a big campaign after finishing off her last prep so strongly,” he said.

“She’s a quality mare who’s putting together a great record.”

Also at Caulfield, the filly Gongs will attempt to return to her best form in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes.

“I’d love to see her improve on her first-up run, she’s come on and can hopefully perform a lot better,” Cummings said.

Godolphin’s Australian Stakes-race contingent on Saturday is completed by Tally (Tye Angland) who resumes in the G2 Shannon Stakes at Rosehill and Demerara (Dom Torneur) who is first-up in the Listed WH Wylie Hcp at Morphettville in Adelaide.

Without being a top-line performer, the six-year-old has been one of the stable’s great servants, winning seven races, including two at G2, being placed in the G1 Australian Derby and winning a tick under A$1 million in prize money.