Sacred Falls has the chance to make history in the 2015 Doncaster Mile and trainer Chris Waller believes that there is a sense of timing about the entire heading into the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Sacred Falls has the chance to become the first horse in history to win the Doncaster Mile three years in a row. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sacred Falls has won the past two editions of the Doncaster Mile without winning any of his lead-up races in Australia and he will be taking a similar form pattern into the 2015 edition of the race after he finished fifth in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and 12th in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Waller admits that Sacred Falls faces a tough assignment in the Doncaster Mile with the top weight of 58 kilograms on his back, but the Sydney trainer told Racing Ahead that the O’Reilly entire is still capable of becoming the first horse in history to win the Doncaster Mile three years in a row.
“There has been a sense of timing with each of his runs in the Doncaster and he obviously loves the Randwick mile,” Waller said.
“He likes soft and heavy track conditions which he is likely to get on Saturday, but he has to carry a massive weight.
“With 58 kilos it is not going to be easy and you could say that his lead-up run was not as good as last year, but all I can say is that there is a sense of timing about the horse and I could not have him any fitter.”
Moriarty and Royal Descent are also both guaranteed starts in the 2015 Doncaster Mile and Waller is happy with both horses heading into the Group 1 event this weekend.
Royal Descent finished a close second behind Sacred Falls in the Doncaster Mile last year and she has had five starts over the famous Royal Randwick mile for an amazing five second place finishes.
The Redoute’s Choice mare returned to a semblance of her best form with a fast-finishing fourth in the George Ryder Stakes and Waller is confident that she can record her first race win for two years with a bit of luck in the Doncaster Mile.
“Again with here there is a sense of timing,” Waller said.
“She is third-up from a spell and her run in the George Ryder was excellent.
“She has the same weight as last year and believe it or not she has the same barrier draw.
“She does need a bit of luck, but that is racing.
“It would be no surprise if the winner of the Doncaster was ridden by Joao Moreira.”
Moriarty broke through for a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot at the end of last year and he was far from disgraced when he returned to racing in the George Ryder Stakes.
Waller admits that Moriarty may lack the class to win a Doncaster Mile, but he feels that the veteran gelding is capable of running a big race in the Group 1 event.
“Moriarty is obviously a Group 1 winner, but it was in Western Australia which is a little bit easier than a Randwick Doncaster, but he deserves to be there from winning that race,” Waller said.
“His best run in Perth was probably the race over the mile where he carried a big weight and he charged home that day.
“He is second-up, he is a good old horse and he has a chance.”
Royal Descent is currently available at 2015 Doncaster Mile odds of $10 with Ladbrokes and is the pick of the Waller-trained gallopers from Sacred Falls ($16) and Moriarty ($67).
