81 horses remain in contention for the biggest prize on Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick, following the release of 2017 Doncaster Mile first acceptances this afternoon.
Three-time Group 1 winner Le Romain has been included in 2017 Doncaster Mile first acceptances. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Equine superstar and reigning champion Winx has been set for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes this season, but trainer Chris Waller is still set to be well represented in the 2017 Doncaster Mile after confirming thirteen runners in first acceptances, including Endless Drama, McCreery and Comin’ Through.
Endless Drama began his racing career in Ireland in late 2014 and posted a number of standout results, including highlighted by a close second to Gleneagles in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1609m) in 2015.
Resuming this time for a smart third in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on February 13th, the Lope De Vega entire was unable to handle the heavy conditions when sixth in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago.
McCreery was a standout for Waller through the recent Spring Carnival and is a live chance of winning the Doncaster Mile 2017.
Having won each of the Listed Rose Bowl (1600m) and Group 3 Kingston Town Classic (2000m) through August and September, the Big Bad Bob gelding ran on for sixth in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) before running a close second to Le Romain in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m).
McCreery appears to be in line for another big preparation, having comfortably won the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) first-up on February 25th.
A half-brother to multiple Group 1 champion Criterion, Comin’ Through ran fifth in the Group 2 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first-up before placing third in each of the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
A host of talented three-year-olds have been confirmed in 2017 Doncaster Mile first acceptances, including Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc, consistent performer Man From Uncle and Omei Sword.
Hey Doc has been a revelation for Tony McEvoy in recent seasons and resumed this time for a credible third in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) before winning the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) in his only other start prior to the Australian Guineas (1600m).
Man From Uncle stormed home to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes first-up; repeating the dose in the Hobartville Stakes before running gallantly for fifth on heavy going in the Randwick Guineas over the weekend.
Omei Sword has experienced several injury concerns since the early spring, but the filly returned for an impressive second in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 25th and appears as though she is primed for a maiden win at the highest level this time.
Le Romain is yet to taste anything but success in 2017 and has been confirmed to target the Randwick feature race after also being confirmed in Doncaster Mile first acceptances.
Breaking through for his first Group 1 win in the Randwick Guineas last autumn, the Hard Spun gelding recorded a gutsy win in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) first-up this year, before beating Chautauqua on the line in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) last weekend.
Le Romain is the early $9 favourite in 2017 Doncaster Mile betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Doncaster Mile First Acceptances
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111×84 | ABBEY MARIE | M | 4 | Michael Kent | 97 |
| 2 | 3646×1216 | ACHI BABA | G | 3 | John O’Shea | 71 |
| 3 | 323211×35 | ANAHEIM | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 75 |
| 4 | 381416x | ANCIENT HISTORY (IRE) | H | 4 | John O’Shea | 74 |
| 5 | 6x511112x1 | ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 103 |
| 6 | 3x00352x02 | AROD (IRE) | H | 6 | Chris Waller | 106 |
| 7 | 917x277x41 | ASTRONOMOS (GB) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 85 |
| 8 | 2x1113x8 | BEZEL | C | 3 | John O’Shea | 78 |
| 9 | x12129x211 | BLACK HEART BART | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 114 |
| 10 | 54x17x26x1 | CANNYESCENT | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 74 |
| 11 | 1311x47x32 | CHAUTAUQUA | G | 6 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 119 |
| 12 | 121×533 | COMIN’ THROUGH | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 81 |
| 13 | x1290x1211 | CYLINDER BEACH (NZ) | G | 4 | Desleigh Forster | 100 |
| 14 | 118x359x47 | DANISH TWIST | M | 5 | Kris Lees | 104 |
| 15 | 249×232924 | DIBAYANI (IRE) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 106 |
| 16 | 13x1421x97 | DIVINE PROPHET | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 104 |
| 17 | 2x20214x31 | DIXIE BLOSSOMS | M | 4 | Ron Quinton | 101 |
| 18 | 41×2111 | DUSTY JACK | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 76 |
| 19 | 1117×232 | ECHO EFFECT | G | 3 | Kristen Buchanan | 82 |
| 20 | 06116×1133 | ECUADOR (NZ) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 108 |
| 21 | x3915x0x36 | ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) | H | 5 | Chris Waller | 104 |
| 22 | 631x5470x1 | ENGLISH | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 110 |
| 23 | 3x12x210x2 | EURO ANGEL (NZ) | M | 4 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 99 |
| 24 | 3x183538x6 | EXOSPHERIC (GB) | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 112 |
| 25 | x1240x518x | FIRST SEAL | M | 5 | John P Thompson | 110 |
| 26 | 3x230x533x | FOUNDATION (IRE) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 100 |
| 27 | 212x114x24 | FOXPLAY | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 92 |
| 28 | x672162x88 | FRENCH EMOTION | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 100 |
| 29 | x3611x9213 | GLOBAL GLAMOUR | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 107 |
| 30 | 23x56469x2 | HAPPY CLAPPER | G | 6 | Patrick Webster | 107 |
| 31 | x211123x28 | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | 116 |
| 32 | 22x12182x3 | HAURAKI | G | 5 | John O’Shea | 112 |
| 33 | 400x9128x5 | HAZZABEEL (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 98 |
| 34 | x7323590x1 | HE OR SHE | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 103 |
| 35 | 22x41670x9 | HEAVENS ABOVE | M | 5 | Tim Martin | 103 |
| 36 | 11x1110x87 | HE’S OUR ROKKII (NZ) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 108 |
| 37 | x11134x311 | HEY DOC | G | 3 | Tony McEvoy | 103 |
| 38 | x154231x27 | I AM A STAR (NZ) | F | 3 | Shane Nichols | 107 |
| 39 | 1653x4313x | IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | 108 |
| 40 | 182844700x | JACQUINOT BAY | G | 9 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 99 |
| 41 | 35x046741x | JESSY BELLE | M | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 98 |
| 42 | 51429×338 | LAND OF PLENTY | C | 3 | Grahame Begg | 72 |
| 43 | 7x22251x11 | LE ROMAIN | G | 4 | Kris Lees | 113 |
| 44 | 29x791x705 | LUCKY HUSSLER | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 110 |
| 45 | 123×115 | MAN FROM UNCLE | G | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | 86 |
| 46 | 694132x70x | MARENOSTRO (NZ) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 99 |
| 47 | x6251162x1 | MCCREERY (GB) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 102 |
| 48 | 114x82876x | MIME (NZ) | M | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 95 |
| 49 | 19x1030x03 | MISS ROSE DE LAGO | M | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 104 |
| 50 | 110x7111x6 | NEW TIPPERARY | G | 4 | Joseph Pride | 88 |
| 51 | 1182×53 | NO DOUBT | H | 4 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | 67 |
| 52 | 129x12x2 | OMEI SWORD | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 92 |
| 53 | 451008×446 | PALENTINO | H | 4 | Darren Weir | 111 |
| 54 | 3x68x11212 | PORTMAN (NZ) | G | 4 | Danny O’Brien | 72 |
| 55 | x463351x62 | PRIZED ICON | C | 3 | James Cummings | 107 |
| 56 | 1114x4197x | RAW IMPULSE (GB) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 95 |
| 57 | 5120x5x21x | REDKIRK WARRIOR (GB) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 99 |
| 58 | 32195x | REINFORCED | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 64 |
| 59 | 0x274088x2 | RISING ROMANCE (NZ) | M | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 104 |
| 60 | 5140x5474x | RUDY | G | 6 | Helen Page | 100 |
| 61 | 11114x | RUSSIAN REVOLUTION | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 97 |
| 62 | x454282x06 | SEABURGE | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 103 |
| 63 | 641454x12x | SENSE OF OCCASION | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 103 |
| 64 | 1x51024x94 | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 88 |
| 65 | 212x231x21 | SILENT SEDITION | M | 4 | Andrew Noblet | 99 |
| 66 | 2x145x227x | SINGING (FR) | H | 7 | Kris Lees | 97 |
| 67 | x402211Fx7 | SINGLE GAZE | M | 4 | Nick Olive | 103 |
| 68 | 80x05x610x | SONS OF JOHN | G | 6 | Jason Attard | 101 |
| 69 | 21x13433x | SPECTROSCOPE (USA) | H | 4 | John O’Shea | 81 |
| 70 | 1x1782x163 | TESTASHADOW | G | 5 | Gary Portelli | 101 |
| 71 | 10x2248x42 | THAMES COURT | M | 4 | David Brideoake | 98 |
| 72 | 1x26330x1x | TIVACI | H | 4 | Michael Moroney | 102 |
| 73 | x266223x69 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | G | 6 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 97 |
| 74 | 50×2152427 | TOO GOOD TO REFUSE | H | 4 | Desleigh Forster | 95 |
| 75 | 142×218 | TOP OF MY LIST | M | 4 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | 74 |
| 76 | 3x522845x7 | TORGERSEN (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 88 |
| 77 | x51709x4x2 | TOSEN STARDOM (JPN) | H | 6 | Darren Weir | 110 |
| 78 | 11x1611x8 | UGO FOSCOLO (NZ) | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 103 |
| 79 | 49x549169x | VANBRUGH | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 103 |
| 80 | 4x11144x48 | VELADERO | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 84 |
| 81 | 515x0560x2 | ZANBAGH | M | 6 | John P Thompson | 99 |
