Four Group 1’s will be run and won this Saturday at Royal Randwick, headlined by the $3 million Doncaster Mile.
Last year’s winner Cascadian is hoping to become the first horse to go back to back since Sacred Falls in 2013/14, but it’s no surprise to find the Godolphin galloper at long odds with the likes of Golden Eagle winner I’m Thunderstruck, Randwick Guineas winner Converge, and one of the stars of the autumn, Forbidden Love, also stepping out.
Chris Waller is hoping to win the race for a seventh time with Kiku on the short backup, while Converge can also score a fourth Doncaster win for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott team.
It’s always one of the highlights on Day 1 of The Championships, and we’ve got you’ve covered with analysis on every horse in this year’s Doncaster Mile field below.
1. Cascadian (18)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Doncaster Mile)
- Record: 36-7:5:6
- Track: 13:2-1-1
- Distance: 16:3-2-2
- Trainer: James Cummings
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Odds: $26.00
Bolted in from last to first to win this race last year right on the line. Strips fitter for four runs back and was the winner of the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield three back. Far from disgraced in the Australian Cup and the All-Star Mile but is likely to find this tougher on heavy going. Wide draw only complicates matters.
2. I’m Thunderstruck (8)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Toorak Handicap)
- Record: 12-6:1:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 2:1-1-0
- Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr
- Jockey: Hugh Bowman
- Odds: $5.00
Toorak Handicap and Golden Eagle winner during the spring. Finished off only fairly in the C.F. Orr and Futurity Stakes earlier in his prep but did run an enormous race for second with the pattern against him in the All-Star Mile. Has been aimed for this race since he resumed and does own a win on heavy going. Rock-hard fit now for four runs back and rates as a major chance.
3. Private Eye (22)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Epsom Handicap)
- Record: 17-8:1:1
- Track: 5:2-1-1
- Distance: 2:2-0-0
- Trainer: Joseph Pride
- Jockey: Regan Bayliss
- Odds: $15.00
Looks set to peak third-up following two impressive runs in both the Canterbury Stakes and the George Ryder. Proven swimmer with wins on soft and heavy going and has also missed the money only once from five starts at Randwick. Has drawn a horror gate though and will need plenty of luck to go his way.
4. Dalasan (5)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 32-7:4:5
- Track: 4:0-0-3
- Distance: 7:1-0-2
- Trainer: Leon Macdonald &Andrew Gluyas
- Jockey: Chad Schofield
- Odds: $34.00
Group 1 veteran still chasing that elusive first win. Failed to let down first-up in the Canterbury Stakes and finished off only fairly for sixth in the George Ryder. Should appreciate getting out over further now but does need to improve on those efforts.
5. Lighthouse (23)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2022 Coolmore Classic)
- Record: 17-8:5:1
- Track: 1:0-1-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
- Jockey: Damian Lane
- Odds: $15.00
Broke through to score a well-deserved (and convincing) Group 1 win in the Coolmore last time out. Everything about that suggested he’ll handle the step up to the mile, but Damian Lane does have a job on his hands after drawing awkwardly. Hasn’t missed the money in his last eight starts though and has to be respected with strong wet track form.
6. Laws Of Indices (4)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Jean Prat)
- Record: 15-3:0:2
- Track: 2:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Annabel Neasham
- Jockey: Tommy Berry
- Odds: $34.00
Group 1 winning Irish import. Made amends in the George Ryder last time out sticking on well for third after racing further forward. Has placed twice on heavy going and was far from disgraced in last year’s Golden Eagle. A place wouldn’t surprise.
7. Ellsberg (6)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 16-6:6:2
- Track: 5:2-2-1
- Distance: 3:0-2-1
- Trainer: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
- Jockey: Tim Clark
- Odds: $15.00
On debut at Group 1 level and looks capable of measuring up. Won the Liverpool Cup two back on a Heavy 10 and just found one better when second to Just Folk in the Ajax Stakes last time out. Strong wet tracker that has never missed a place on heavy going and has to be considered.
8. Inspirational Girl (19)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2020 Railway Stakes)
- Record: 16-10:2:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 5:4-0-0
- Trainer: Danny O’Brien
- Jockey: William Pike
- Odds: $26.00
Talented WA mare that won the Group 1 Railway Stakes over the mile at Ascot a couple of years ago. On debut in Sydney but did beat Zaaki two back over the same trip in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington. Forget she went round in the All-Star Mile after missing the start. Needs luck from out wide but could be a sneaky chance if the tracks firms up slightly.
9. Hungry Heart (11)
- Group 1’s: 2 (2021 Vinery Stud Stakes, ATC Oaks)
- Record: 18-4:4:1
- Track: 11:2-3-0
- Distance: 5:0-1-1
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: TBD
- Odds: $51.00
Scratched from last week’s Emancipation Stakes and does look a big query here on another heavy track. Won the Vinery Stud Stakes and the ATC Oaks in succession this time last year but has failed to win a race since. Ran okay first-up in the Apollo Stakes but is seven weeks between runs. Tough to have on a wet track.
10. Icebath (9)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 29-4:7:4
- Track: 16:2-4-3
- Distance: 6:1-2-0
- Trainer: Brad Widdup
- Jockey: Fred Kersley
- Odds: $15.00
Ran a nose second to Superstorm over the mile in the Cantala Stakes to wrap up the spring. Made up some ground for fourth two back in the Guy Walter and is worth forgiving on her run in the All-Star mile when caught wide. Loves racing on rain-affected going and is drawn to get back and run on. Consider.
11. Sky Lab (1)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 17-4:4:1
- Track: 6:1-1-0
- Distance: 3:1-1-0
- Trainer: Paul Perry
- Jockey: Ms Kathy O’Hara
- Odds: $71.00
Returns on a quick backup after finishing off for fifth in the Neville Selwood over 2000m last week at Rosehill. Won a BM100 first-up but is facing a much tougher challenge here.
12. Kissonallforcheeks (7)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 19-9:5:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 2:0-0-1
- Trainer: Daniel Morton
- Jockey: Alysha Collett
- Odds: $26.00
Twice placed at Group 1 level and has not missed the money in her last five starts. Won over 1400m at Flemington by a clear margin a few weeks ago clocking impressive figures on the clock. Certainly has the talent to compete at this level but does look a genuine query racing on a heavy track for just the second time.
13. Numerian (2)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 23-3:5:4
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 7:1-1-2
- Trainer: Annabel Neasham
- Jockey: Robbie Dolan
- Odds: $71.00
On debut at Group 1 level. Beat home Sir Dragonet a couple of years ago over in Ireland and has form around impressive stayer Broome. Finished off nicely for sixth in his Australian debut at Flemington a few weeks ago and might just run a cheeky race at big odds.
14. Hilal (16)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 14-3:4:2
- Track: 7:2-3-1
- Distance: 3:1-1-1
- Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- Jockey: Brock Ryan
- Odds: $51.00
Got a mile out of his ground last time out in the George Ryder but should appreciate getting back to Randwick where he’s won twice before. Stuck on well for third behind Converge and Anamoe in the Randwick Guineas two back but will likely find this tough from a wide draw.
15. Brutality (17)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 27-6:3:6
- Track: 7:1-1-2
- Distance: 8:3-1-2
- Trainer: Joseph Pride
- Jockey: Jay Ford
- Odds: $21.00
Won the Villiers Stakes over this track and trip back in December and has run some big races since resuming. Finished off well for a clear second behind Ellsberg on heavy going first-up in the Liverpool Cup and showed some fight late in Monday’s Doncaster Prelude. Gets the blinkers again and should be ready to fire fourth-up.
16. Forbidden Love (14)
- Group 1’s: 3 (2021 Surround Stakes, 2022 Canterbury Stakes, George Ryder Stakes)
- Record: 22-8:1:5
- Track: 9:4-0-2
- Distance: 2:0-0-1
- Trainer: Richard & Michael Freedman
- Jockey: Ms Jamie Kah
- Odds: $4.60
Installed as a deserving favourite in search of her third Group 1 of the autumn. Clear winner of both the Canterbury and George Ryder Stakes, albeit from much kinder draws. Easily one of the country’s best wet trackers and now gets in nice and light carrying just 50kg’s. Slight query over the mile but those last two wins suggest she might be looking for it. Jamie Kah’s recent form also tough to fault.
17. Just Folk (10)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 19-6:2:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 3:1-0-0
- Trainer: Josh Julius
- Jockey: Dean Holland
- Odds: $21.00
Booked a spot in the Doncaster with a win in the Ajax Stakes over Ellsberg last time out. Has enjoyed a soft trial in between finishing second to Eduardo and is another one that absolutely loves a wet track. Unbeaten in three starts on heavy going and was also the winner of the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley during the spring. Rates well and might be over the odds.
18. Kiku (20)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 17-4:4:5
- Track: 5:1-1-1
- Distance: 3:1-0-1
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Ms Linda Meech
- Odds: $51.00
Typically runs an honest race. Bolted in late for second in the Emancipation Stakes on Monday at Newcastle and handles wet tracks. No match over the mile in the Empire Rose Stakes during the spring but recent form does read well. Looks to be back to his best and is worth considering each way.
19. Mr Brightside (21)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 12-6:1:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 8:5-0-0
- Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes
- Jockey: Craig Williams
- Odds: $21.00
Proven miler with five wins to his name. Strips fitter for three runs back and has run no worse than fourth in each of them. Worth forgiving after missing the start in the All-Star Mile but thought he finished off well considering. How he handles heavy ground for the first time will be the key.
20. Converge (3)
- Group 1’s: 2 (2021 J.J. Atkins, 2022 Randwick Guineas)
- Record: 12-4:3:3
- Track: 4:2-0-2
- Distance: 4:3-0-1
- Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- Jockey: Ms Rachel King
- Odds: $8.00
Genuine type that already has the runs on the board at this level. Comes off three consecutive stoushes with Anamoe and has been enormous on each occasion. Drops back to the mile after finishing a clear second in the Rosehill Guineas and is another one that eats up rain-affected going. Ran third in the Champagne Stakes over the track and trip last year before winning the J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm over the mile. Maps to get a lovely run off the speed and is great value at the current quote.
21. Bankers Choice (15)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 12-5:1:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 2:1-0-0
- Trainer: Michael Moroney
- Jockey: Teodore Nugent
- Odds: $17.00
First emergency. Clocked the fastest final 200m of the day first-up in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington and gave a good sight for fourth last time out in the George Ryder. Has won twice on heavy going and could play a role if he earns a spot.
22. King Magnus (12)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 25-7:6:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 5:1-0-0
- Trainer: Robbie Griffiths & Matthew de Kock
- Jockey: TBD
- Odds: $81.00
Won the Cranbourne Cup over the mile during the spring but hasn’t looked the same horse this time in work. Finished well down the straight in the All-Star Mile and would only find this tougher.
23. Ironclad (24)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 16-7:1:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 5:3-0-1
- Trainer: Will Clarken
- Jockey: Ms Linda Meech
- Odds: $71.00
Third emergency.
24. Our Playboy (13)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 20-5:2:0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 3:2-1-0
- Trainer: Mick Price & Michael kent Jr
- Jockey: TBD
- Odds: $81.00
Second in the Doncaster Prelude on Monday at Newcastle. Would need luck to go his way as the fourth emergency.
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