Doncaster Mile
Doncaster Mile Tips & Predictions
| Date | Saturday April 6, 2019 |
| Track | Royal Randwick |
| Distance | 1600m |
| Class | Group 1 |
| Race Type | Handicap |
| Prizemoney | $3 million |
| Age | 3YO+ |
{Chris Waller dominated the race since the turn of the century and bettors should follow his large team of runners.
Three-year-old runners are worth investing on as they carry a light weight and they have been primed with plenty of racing in the lead-up.}
Long known as the toughest handicap race in the world, the Doncaster Mile is the feature race during The Championships at Randwick in April.
Raced on the first Saturday of The Championships, the $3 million Doncaster Mile a time-honoured event and it's one of the biggest races on the Australian calendar.
Horses from all over the world have attempted to win the Doncaster, but the local champions have had great success over the 150+ years.
Greats like Sunline, Winx and Super Impose have their names etched on the trophy and there will be many champions to come.
Doncaster Mile betting selections & tips
We will have expert tips for the Doncaster available when the final-field markets are released by bookmakers, but bettors can invest into futures markets.
The Doncaster Handicap isn't an easy race to predict with sprinters trying to stretch out to the mile and middle-distance runners dropping back in distance, but that makes for an exciting contest.
Doncaster Mile Day betting card 2019
There are 10 premier races on Doncaster Mile Day at Randwick, including three other Group 1 races.
| Race No. | Race Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Widden Anniversary Stakes |
| 2 | Carbine Club Stakes |
| 3 | Chairman's Handicap |
| 4 | Country Championships Final |
| 5 | P.J. Bell Stakes |
| 6 | Inglis Sires' |
| 7 | Australian Derby |
| 8 | T.J. Smith Stakes |
| 9 | Doncaster Mile |
| 10 | Adrian Knox Stakes |
Doncaster Mile history
The first running of the Doncaster Mile was in 1866 when Dundee took out the prize.
Since then there has been a wealth of champion winners and many Australian races are named after past Doncaster Mile winners.
Wakeful, Cuddle, Gunsynd, Emancipation and Sunline have all had races named after them and the list continues to grow with each season.
There have been numerous horses to win the Doncaster Mile on two occasions, more recently including Super Impose (1990-1991), Pharaoh (1994-1995), Sunline (1999-2002) and Sacred Falls (2013-2014).
Champion trainer T.J. Smith won the race seven times and Guy Walter became the first trainer to train the trifecta in 2005.
In 2010 the race name was changed from the Doncaster Handicap to the Doncaster Mile to keep on par with international standards.
It's currently the world's richest mile.
Doncaster Mile betting guide
There have been some quality upset results in the Doncaster Mile, mostly due to the wide-open field, but the favourites have had their say as well.
It's Somewhat caused one of the bigger upsets in 2017 when scoring at odds of $31 for Godolphin Racing. The field didn't include 2016 winner Winx, but there were many other well-fancied chances expected to run better.
Bettors in Australia and around the world have made plenty of money betting on champion mare Winx, and her win in the Doncaster Mile helped with that.
The Chris Waller-trained champion typically runs as the 1/10 favourite on a good day, but bookmakers gifted bettors with 8/10 in 2016.
That win gave Waller his fourth consecutive win in the race having trained Sacred Falls and Kermadec to victory.
It pays to follow the three-year-old's because of the handicap conditions. The likes of Sacred Falls and Kermadec both won with little weight on their backs and that helps against the horses which have to carry 57-59kg.
Sunline carried 58kg to victory in 2002 and More Joyous carried 57.5kg to victory, so carrying big weight can be done by the mares, but they were special thoroughbreds.
The race is so popular because sprinters and stayers can compete. This gives every horse a chance to win the big race.
Doncaster Mile facts
- T.J. Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse have won the Doncaster Mile on seven occasions.
- Chris Waller trained the first four runners home in 2014 with Sacred Falls winning, followed by Royal Descent, Weary and Hawkspur.
- The best barrier draw to follow is barrier 16. Most connections hate seeing the wide draws come out, but four runners have won from out wide.
- Barrier 10 is another good draw to have, but there are some draws to stay away from. Barriers 2, 3, 15 and 18 have yet to yield a winning result, so bettors beware.
Doncaster Handicap lead-up races
Due to the wide variety of horses nominated for the Doncaster Mile, there are no real lead-up races.
Bettors should, however, follow the form out of the Cox Plate and there's also the Randwick Guineas for the three-year-old talent.
There has been a path of the Coolmore Classic in March before running in the Doncaster, but many trainers are bypassing that option and going to the George Ryder Stakes over 1500m a week later.
Doncaster Mile past winners list
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Happy Clapper |
| 2017 | It’s Somewhat |
| 2016 | Winx |
| 2015 | Kermadec |
| 2014 | Sacred Falls |
| 2013 | Sacred Falls |
| 2012 | More Joyous |
| 2011 | Sacred Choice |
| 2010 | Rangirangdoo |
| 2009 | Vision and Power |
| 2008 | Triple Honour |
| 2007 | Haradasun |
| 2006 | Racing To Win |
| 2005 | Patezza |
| 2004 | Private Steer |
| 2003 | Grand Armee |
| 2002 | Sunline |
| 2001 | Assertive Lad |
| 2000 | Over |
| 1999 | Sunline |
| 1998 | Catalan Opening |
| 1997 | Secret Savings |
| 1996 | Sprint By |
| 1995 | Pharaoh |
| 1994 | Pharaoh |
| 1993 | Skating |
| 1992 | Soho Square |
| 1991 | Super Impose |
| 1990 | Super Impose |
| 1989 | Merimbula Bay |
| 1988 | Lygon Arms |
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