The 2024 Doncaster Mile is shaping as a vintage edition with a host of chances among the full field of 20 plus four emergencies.
Sydney’s standard autumnal deluge is threatening the meeting from going ahead but as of Friday morning the track was rated a soft (7). The Beaten Favourite‘s current track walker information is suggesting lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be inferior going with lanes 4 and 5 better and the best ground in lanes outside of 5 – suiting “off-pace swoopers”.
Proven Thoroughbreds is represented in the $4 million showpiece by THINK ABOUT IT. The Joe Pride-trained gelding will come into barrier 12 of 20 if there are no scratchings and carries the number one saddlecloth courtesy of his 57kg impost. Only SUNLINE, MORE JOYOUS and HAPPY CLAPPER have carried 57kg or more to victory since the turn of the century.
DONCASTER KEY STATS
- 9 of the last 10 winners have come through a WFA lead-up
- 16 of the last 30 winners have come through the George Ryder Stakes
- 8 of the last 30 favourites have won with an ROI of -7% (ANOTHER WIL)
- No 3YO has completed the Randwick Guineas – Doncaster Mile double (CELESTIAL LEGEND)
- Coolmore Classic winners are 2 from 21 (ZOUGOTCHA)
- Doncaster Prelude winners are 4 from 21 (ANOTHER WIL)
- Ajax Stakes winners are 4 from 32 (DEMOCRACY MANIFEST)
NIC ASHMAN’s TIP
“CELESTIAL LEGEND sat three wide without cover in the Randwick Guineas and won beating MILITARIZE, who was then placed in the G1 George Ryder behind another 3YO in VEIGHT. The George Ryder has provided 16 of the last 30 Doncaster Mile winners and even though CELESTIAL LEGEND didn’t run in it, we can take a direct formline through it and with just 49kg on his back and some good wet track data, he appeals on an each-way basis at $8.50.”
