Winx Headlines Doncaster Mile Field

The 2016 Doncaster Mile field has been released and Winx is set to take on 14 rivals in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Winx will have the chance to record a ninth straight victory in the 2016 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Winx will have the chance to record a ninth straight victory in the 2016 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Winx has stamped herself as the best horse in Australia with eight straight wins and she is a clear favourite to add a Doncaster Mile victory to the Group 1s that she has already taken out this season in the Epsom Handicap, Cox Plate, Chipping Norton Stakes and George Ryder Stakes.

The daughter of Street Cry will carry just 56.5 kilograms and she has the chance to deliver trainer Chris Waller a fourth straight victory in the Doncaster Mile.

Winx is joined in the Doncaster Mile field by stablemate Kermadec, who has the chance to replicate the likes of Sacred Falls (2013 and 2014) and Pharaoh (1993 and 1994) by winning the Group 1 event in back-to-back years.

Kermadec is yet to record a race win this preparation, but he performed well first-up in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 5 and he gave Winx a race in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

The Waller trio is rounded out by Railway Stakes winner, who won a barrier trial at Warwick Farm last weekend after he finished a flat seventh behind It’s Somewhat in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 12.

The George Ryder Stakes will be the key form reference for the Doncaster Mile and the likes of Turn Me Loose, First Seal and Happy Clapper will have the chance to turn-the-tables on Winx.

Turn Me Loose produced a below par performance in the Doncaster Mile, while First Seal and Happy Clapper found the line fairly, but they were no match for the Chris Waller trifecta.

Another race that will be a key Doncaster Mile form guide is the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m), which was won by He Or She at Flemington on March 12.

He Or She will return to Group 1 level for the first time since he finished fifth behind Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) last year and she will be joined in the Doncaster Mile field by beaten favourite Stratum Star.

Volkstok’n’barrell is one of the most interesting horses in the Doncaster Mile field and he returns to Australian race on the back of back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Haunui Farm Classic (1600m) at Otaki on February 17 and the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 12.

He failed to fire during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he is yet to miss a placing in two race starts in Sydney in both the Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby.

The 2016 Doncaster Mile field is rounded out by Godolphin-owned Bow Creek, Gai Waterhouse-trained Ecuador, Coolmore Classic runner-up Azkadellia, wet track specialist Rudy and the Anthony Cummings-trained duo of Aomen and Vergara.

 

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.