163 nominations have been taken for the 2016 Doncaster Mile (1600m); one of four Group 1 feature races slated for Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick Racecourse, April 2nd.
Winx has been included in 2016 Doncaster Mile nominations. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Chris Waller saddled talented three-year-old Kermadec to success in last year’s edition of the Doncaster Mile and is again set to launch a multi-pronged attack on the major Autumn Carnival race after including a total of 30 of his runners in nominations, including Winx, Press Statement and Good Project.
Winx has fast become the stable star of the talent-rich Waller operation and has posted an impressive nine wins and three minors through only fifteen career starts.
Capping a strong autumn and winter preparation with a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m), the Street Cry mare resumed in spring for success in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) before posting commanding wins in each of the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
Press Statement has been a standout amongst his own age group through his seven start career so far, and is a two-time Group 1 winner over a mile.
Taking out the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane in only his third career start on June 6th, the Hinchinbrook colt returned in spring for a close second to Exosphere in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) but failed to fire when fifth in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) a fortnight later.
Returning to winning form in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) on September 26th, Press Statement produced a particularly impressive effort to win the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) by two lengths last time out on October 10th.
Good Project failed to finish outside the first three through six starts in spring and undoubtedly displayed a clear affiliation with 1600m throughout.
Beating a talented field to the line in the Mack Trucks BM85 (1200m) upon resuming on September 12th, the Not A Single Doubt entire continued to impress on his way to second in the Lavazza Short Black (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day before producing a career-best performance to win the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in Perth on November 21st.
The major Sydney stables have all included runners in 2016 Doncaster Mile nominations; leading lady Gai Waterhouse has a total of nine prospects for the race while ten Godolphin runners have also been included.
Of Waterhouse’s contingent, Ecuador and Pornichet are proven performers at the class and distance of the 2016 Doncaster Mile.
A strong and consistent performer in posting six wins and eight minors through 21 career starts so far, Ecuador returned in spring for second in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m); progressing to fourth in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1500m) at Newcastle before producing a career-best effort to date to place second in the Epsom Handicap.
Following up a credible fifth in the Doncaster Mile with success in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) last winter, Pornichet produced a number of typically commendable performances through spring; namely second in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m), third in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Cox Plate.
Ladbrokes Australia currently rate Winx an outright $8 favourite in early 2016 Doncaster Mile betting markets.
