An impressive field of sixteen has been taken for Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick and we are set for an outstanding edition of the feature race.
Kementari has shown class and ability beyond his years in so-far this season and has opened the $3.50 favourite in our Doncaster Mile betting market following Tuesday morning’s barrier draw.
The Lonhro colt has been a strong and consistent performer since debuting for Godolphin in May last year, but he has gone to another level this preparation and can be the first three-year-old to win the Doncaster Mile since Kermadec in 2015.
Trialling well at Warwick Farm prior to his competitive return, Kementari put a smart field to the sword with complete ease in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first-up on February 10th, before repeating that effort and result in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) a fortnight later.
Having continued his domination of the three-year-old ranks with a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 10th, Kementari was thrown in the deep end for his first tilt amongst open company when charged with taking on Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) a fortnight ago.
While easily accounted for by the champion mare, the horse did manage to finish within two lengths and more importantly, a close third behind fellow Doncaster Mile acceptor Happy Clapper.
In-form hoop Brenton Avdulla will take the ride on Kementari in the Doncaster Mile, who has been charged with carrying only 51.5kgs and has drawn ideally in barrier 2.
Happy Clapper has yet to receive any interest in early Doncaster Mile betting, but he remains the sole occupant of the second line of better at $5 odds.
The Teofilo gelding has been a star for trainer Pat Webster throughout his entire racing career and has finished runner-up in each of the two most-recent editions of the Doncaster Mile, behind Winx and It’s Somewhat respectively.
Having finally broken through for a well-deserved Group 1 win in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) in spring, Happy Clapper called on his big turn of foot in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up this time and added a second.
Having completed an ideal lead-in to this race by running a strong second to Winx in the George Ryder, Happy Clapper will take plenty of beating in the Doncaster Mile and is worth consideration at his current quote.
Interestingly, only two other horses are currently available at Doncaster Mile odds of less-than $10 and Humidor ($8) is a live chance of winning the horse on class alone.
A Group 1 winner at the distance having taken out the Makybe Diva Stakes in spring, Humidor came within a head of delivering Winx defeat in the Cox Plate in October, but returned to the paddock after failing to run out the Melbourne Cup trip.
The son of Teofilo flew home to finish fourth in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) first-up this time and will carry winning form into the Doncaster Mile after taking out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington three weeks ago.
D’Argento ($7) stamped himself as a star in the making by flying to win the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) a fortnight ago and will step back in trip to run in the Doncaster Mile.
The son of So You Think has only had six starts since debuting in July last year, but has continued to improve as the bar has been set higher and he will carry only 50kgs in the Doncaster.
Chris Waller will launch a six-pronged attack in the Doncaster Mile after also confirming all of Endless Drama ($26), Tom Melbourne ($17), Comin’ Through ($16), Egg Tart ($34) and Mister Sea Wolf ($71) in the field.