The 2017 Doncaster Mile field has been released and a capacity field of 20 horses as well as three emergencies have been included in the entries for the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Hauraki will carry the top-weight in the 2017 Doncaster Mile. Photo by: Steve Hart
Chris Waller has won the past four editions of the Doncaster Mile and he goes into the 2017 edition of the race with a typically strong hand in the form of McCreery, Arod, Endless Drama and Antonio Giuseppe.
McCreey, Arod and Endless Drama have all been a touch inconsistent this preparation, but Waller is sure to have all three peaking on the big day as he chases another historic Doncaster Mile win.
Another stable with multiple winning chances in the 2017 Doncaster Mile is Godolphin, who have Hauraki, It’s Somewhat and Spectroscope in the race.
Hauraki won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) over this track and distance in the Spring and he will carry the top weight of 57 kilograms, while import Spectroscope gets in with just 51 kilograms on his back following his impressive start to his racing career in Australia.
The in-form Le Romain is the second top-weight with 56.5 kilograms along with Blamey Stakes winner Palentino, while Japanese import Tosen Stardom will carry 56 kilograms.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2017 Doncaster Mile field is Lindsay Park-trained Redkirk Warrior.
Redkirk Warrior became the first horse in 100 years to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) first-up and he makes the leap up to a mile for the Doncaster Mile, but all his best form in Hong Kong was over 1600 metres.
Three-year-olds have an excellent record in the Doncaster Mile and both I Am A Star and Hey Doc have the to join Kermadec (2015), Sacred Falls (2013) and Triple Honour (2008) as recent three-year-old winners of the Group 1 event.
Hey Doc has gone to another level during the 2017 Melbourne Festival of Racing and he stamped himself as one of the most talented three-year-olds in the country with back-to-back wins in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
No filly has won the Doncaster Mile since Sunline in 1999, but I Am A Star has been in excellent form this preparation and comes into this race on the back of an excellent win in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m).
Other horses that have been included in the 2017 Doncaster Mile field include last year’s placegetter Happy Clapper, Ecuador, Dibayani, Sense Of Occasion, Sons Of John, Testashadow and Euro Angel, while the three emergencies are New Tipperary, No Doubt and Top Of My List.
