Doncaster win has miles of credibility
MOVE over Golden Slipper – Saturday’s $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick is Sydney’s greatest race.
Despite the Golden Slipper being regarded as one of the “big four” races on the Australian calendar (alongside the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup), trainer Mark Newnham thinks the Doncaster Mile trumps it.
He’s trying to win it, in just his second year of training, with $26 chance Lanciato.
“I’ve been going to the Doncaster since I was a little kid and I’d say the Doncaster is the most iconic Sydney race,” Newnham said.
“As someone who has followed racing their entire life, it’s the race you can most easily identify with.
“There’s horses in the Doncaster with history, whereas the Golden Slipper horses have had just a couple of starts and only been racing few a few months.
“There’s a lot of aspects to it that make it a great race and it’s stacked with quality. It’s a great horses’ race.”
This year’s edition is once again full of talent and Chris Waller has six runners, including Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento who gets into the race with just 49kg on his back.
Randwick Guineas winner Kementari remained the $3.50 favourite with Ladbrokes fixed odds after it drew gate two, just outside Epsom Handicap winner Happy Clapper who will jump from one.
Newnham was on hand at yesterday’s barrier draw at Randwick and when Lanciato was drawn to come out of gate 13 he had no concerns.
A winner of his past two, including the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket (1400m), Lanciato has shown he’s ready for the big stage and a second placing behind Redzel in a barrier trial on March 26 has him primed to produce a career-best run.
“He’s at the top of his game and is going at least as well as he was at Newcastle,” Newnham said.
“His trial was pretty good. Any time you’re taking ground off Redzel you’re going well, and his sectionals last start were outstanding.
Newnham feels the Pat Webster-trained Happy Clapper is the one to beat, but he does have to lug 57kg while Lanciato has just 51kg.
“The weight won’t worry Happy Clapper,” he said.
“He’s battle-hardened and his form at Randwick is exceptional.
“He’s run really well in all the big miles at Randwick.”
THERE’S A LOT OF ASPECTS TO IT THAT MAKE IT A GREAT RACE AND IT’S STACKED WITH QUALITY. IT’S A GREAT HORSES’ RACE MARK NEWNHAM