Appearance Receives Doncaster Penalty

Guy Walter-trained mare Appearance announced herself as a Doncaster Mile contender when winning the Coolmore Classic (1500m) on Saturday but in doing so attracted a weight penalty.

Appearance has received a 0.5kg penalty for the Doncaster. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The Racing NSW handicappers gave the four-year-old a 0.5kg penalty for the performance, meaning she will carry 52.5kg in the prestigious $2 million handicap at Randwick on April 27.

The Coolmore Classic winner is exempt from the Doncaster ballot and it is expected she will head there after the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) on Saturday week.

The Darley-owned mare’s Coolmore Classic victory was her second in the top grade, having also taken out the Group 1 Myer Classic during the Spring Carnival.

Still lightly raced, the daughter of Commands continues to improve with each preparation and has now won five of 12 starts.

Walter described Appearance as an “outstanding mare” following the Coolmore victory.

She is currently a $19 chance in the Doncaster Mile market which is headed by star colt Pierro ($2.20).

Pierro has 56kg for the Doncaster but will be tough to beat after confirming his superstar status when beating glamour stablemate More Joyous by a length in the Canterbury Stakes on Saturday.

Defending champion More Joyous is a $12 chance but is likely to be aimed elsewhere after receiving the topweight of 59.5kg.

Sharing the second line of Doncaster betting with More Joyous at $12 are last year’s runner-up Shoot Out and Canterbury Stakes third placegetter Solzhenitsyn.

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