FEATURE RACE PREVIEW: DONCASTER MILE

Track: Randwick | Distance: 1600m | Condition: Hcp | Rail Position: True | Track Condition: Heavy 9 | Prizemoney: $4,000,000

Heavy rain forecast Thursday to Saturday.

A time-honoured major mile won in recent years by the likes of Winx, Mr Brightside (past 2 years), Sacred Falls, More Joyous, Kermadec, Happy Clapper & Brutal.

Historical Profiling (last 12 years)

• 1st up/2nd up (1/27), 3rd up (5/73), 4th up (5/72), 5th up+ (1/55)
• 7-day break (0/26), 14-day break (10/109), 21-day break (2/60), 23+day break (0/32)
• Leader (2), Settled 3rd-6th (3), Settled 13th-20th (6)
• 3yo (3/28), 4yo (3/76), 5yo (2/54), 6yo (3/41), 7yo+ (1/28)
• Colts (3/19), Fillies (0/5), Geldings (5/118), Mares (3/50), Entires (1/35)
• 49kg-54kg (6/172), 55kg-57.5kg (6/55)
• Career Wins 0-4 (2/63), 5-10 (10/164)
• Win Percentage 0-40% (7/199), 50%+ (5/28)
• Gear Change (0/33)
• Last Start Class G1 (9/128), SC (2/19), Other (1/80)
• Last Start Track Rosehill (10/159), Vic Metro (2/39), Other (0/29)
• Is a good form horse’s race. Last 12 winners have all finished 1st-4th at their last start, and 10 out of 12 finished in the first 5 at their 2nd and 3rd last starts.

Plenty of speed here with Phearson, Attractable, Lindermann & Golden Mile pushing forward.

Another Wil & Zougotcha likely handy.

Lady Laguna, Hinged, Semana, Navao Peak & Southport Tycoon forward of midfield.

Think About It, Berkshire Shadow, Perciles, Rustic Steel, Obamburumai & Celestial Legend back of midfield.

Loch Eagle, Detonator Jack, Militarize, Nugget, Democracy Manifest & Kovalica map to get back.

1. Think About It – Has to prove himself with the topweight over a tough Randwick mile on a wet track from a wide gate. Must bet around him.

2. Obamburumai – Can never discount the Japanese who have an incredible record in Australia & globally. Won the Golden Eagle last start here. Was the beneficiary of the rails bias that day and interestingly the form out of the Golden Eagle since has been poor. Connections are wishing for a dry track so if it gets into the heavy range, he could be a risk.

3. Pericles – Has been racing well this prep. 2nd in the Futurity behind Mr Brightside, then no luck when not clear in the Canterbury Stakes, before finishing well only 3.8L from the winner in the George Ryder. Handles wet ok and a strong mile no issue for him.

4. Militarize – Ran the best late closing sectionals in the George Ryder when 3rd last start. Two of his career best performances were as a 2yo at Randwick on wet tracks. Not well weighted with 54kg for a 3yo but gets Zac Purton aboard. A lot to like.

5. Zougotcha – Won the Flight Stakes by 2L on a wet track this track/trip as a 3yo. Only beaten 4.6L in this race last year after having to do a lot of work to get outside the leader. Won the Coolmore Classic last start. In the mix here.

7. Kovalica – Ran 2nd beaten a head in the Epsom in the Spring over this track/distance. Appears to handle the wet and has been set for this. A QLD Derby winner who will run out a strong mile on the wet track. Has the ability.

13. Democracy Manifest – Had no luck in the Epsom Handicap last prep when held up. Would have been right in the finish. Flew home to win the Ajax last start and is fitter here.
18. Another Wil – Untapped lightly raced gelding with obvious potential. Has had soft leads his past two starts but shown another gear. Big jump here to G1 level on the Randwick bog with a lot more speed engaged. Must bet around him at the price.

19. Celestial Legend – Won the Hobartville impressively two starts ago, then sat wide no cover and was huge to win the Randwick Guineas. Very wet track is an unknown and coming off a 28 day break.

22. Hinged – Has been searching for a wet track and finally gets one here. Can surprise at odds.

Wide open Doncaster. There does appear to be betting potential and value with the bellow runners. Militarize and Zougotcha the two hardest to beat. Kovalica & Pericles can improve sharply into this on the wet. Saving on Celestial Legend & Obamburumai.

1. Militarize
2. Zougotcha
3. Kovalica
4. Pericles
5. Celestial Legend
6. Obamburumai

BACK 4 – Militarize 0.7 U WIN
BACK 5 – Zougotcha 0.7 U WIN
BACK 7 – Kovalica 0.5 U WIN
BACK 3 – Pericles 0.5 U WIN
BACK 17 – Celestial Legend 0.3 U WIN
BACK 2 – Obamburumai 0.3 U WIN