A disappointing Melbourne campaign by Doncaster Mile hope Kolding can be turned around now that his back on home soil in Sydney.
Kolding, above, is back in Sydney preparing for the 2020 Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Kolding failed to run up to his best from two runs at Caulfield for a fifth in the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February 22 and a seventh in the $5m The All-Star Mile on March 14.
The Chris Waller trained four year old has drifted in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and is now marked at $15 for the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships on April 4.
Sydney’s champion jockey Hugh Bowman was aboard Kolding in The All-Star Mile and was on his back again at trackwork at Rosehill on Tuesday morning.
Bowman was happy with Kolding’s work over 1000m, running home the final 400m in 25 seconds, and said that the Ocean Park four year old definitely felt more comfortable going the Sydney way.
“Fantastic. He feels great,” Bowman said.
“Only worked home in 25, so. He’s much happier going the Sydney way.”
Kolding will also feel right at home when he heads back to Randwick for the Doncaster Mile after having won the Group 1 $1m Epsom during the 2019 Sydney Spring Carnival over the same course and distance as The Championships’ feature 1600m event.
Multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi mare Melody Belle sits at the top of the Doncaster Mile market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $7 ahead of Fierce Impact and Imaging who share the second line of betting at $11.
The Jamie Richards trained Melody Belle is a ten times Group 1 winner but could only manage two placings at Caulfield from two starts during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Melody Belle finished a handy third behind Streets Of Avalon and Super Seth in the Group 1 $500,000 PFD Food Services Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February 22 followed by a third behind Regal Power and Superstorm in The All-Star Mile.
Dual Group 1 winner Fierce Impact has also failed to find the winner’s stall during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival but has been around the money with two Group 1 placings before running fourth in The All-Star Mile.
And Kolding’s stablemate Imaging ran back into Doncaster Mile calculations with his win in the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14.
Early betting for the 2020 Doncaster Mile at Ladbrokes.com.au: $7 Melody Belle, $11 Fierce Impact, Imaging, $12 Fifty Stars, Funstar, Shared Ambition, Super Seth, $13 Brandenburg, $15 Kolding, Reloaded, $17 Homesman, $19 Quackerjack, $21 Prince Fawaz, Verry Elleegant, $26 Alizee, Avilius, Cascadian, $31 Flit, $34 Kings Will Dream, Mr Quickie, Yulong Prince, $51 or better the rest.
