Doncaster Mile 2016: Shayne O’Cass previews each runner for Saturday’s big race at Royal Randwick

POLL: SPORTSMAN’S Shayne O’Cass analyses each runner in Saturday’s Doncaster Mile field.

Photographer: Simon Bullard. Race 5 - 3:05PM GALMET MILLIE FOX STAKES (1300 METRES). Winner 'First Seal' ridden by Blake Shinn.

SPORTSMAN’S Shayne O’Cass analyses each runner in Saturday’s Doncaster Mile field.

NEWS: WINX READY FOR BIG TEST

$3m DONCASTER MILE

Randwick, Saturday

Group 1, 1600m

BETTING: TAB Fixed Odds Open / Pre-draw / Post draw

1 KERMADEC $11 / $6.50 / $6.50

Last year’s Doncaster winner; the main difference being he had 51kgs then but 57kgs on Saturday and is taking on his champion stablemate Winx who beat him by 1.5-lengths in the George Ryder Stakes at their most recent clash. High quality galloper capable of winning.

2 TURN ME LOOSE $15 / $26 / $26

NZ 1000 Guineas, Emirates and Futurity winner. This fellow hails from the astute Murray Baker camp who knows better than most what it takes to win a Group 1 in Australia having trained the likes of It’s A Dundeel and Mongolian Khan in recent times. Has to make up a half dozen lengths and more to turn the tables on Winx from his last run in the Ryder.

THE FIELD

1 KERMADEC C Waller Z Purton (3) 57kg

2 TURN ME LOOSE M Baker O Bosson (9) 57kg

3 WINX C Waller H Bowman (11) 56.5kg

4 STRATUM STAR D Weir M Zahra (2) 55kg

5 BOW CREEK J O’Shea J McDonald (4) 54.5kg

6 FIRST SEAL J P Thompson T Berry (1) 53kg

7 VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL D Logan & C Gibbs C Brown (10) 52.5kg

8 GOOD PROJECT C Waller C Newitt (7) 52kg

9 ECUADOR G Waterhouse T Clark (14) 52kg

10 HAPPY CLAPPER P Webster B Avdulla (8) 50.5kg

11 AZKADELLIA C Maher G Boss (12) 50kg

12 HE OR SHE D Hayes & T Dabernig P Moloney (13) 50kg

13 RUDY H Page Ms T Harrison (15) 50kg

14 AOMEN A Cummings Ms W Costin (a) (5) 50kg

15 VERGARA A Cummings Ms K O’Hara (6) 50kg

BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS

3 WINX $9 / $1.85 / $1.85

The darling of Australian racing; she’s going for nine wins in a row. Odds-on favourite to do so. Drawn well in 11, should keep her out of trouble and in the running line. The one to beat — clearly.

4 STRATUM STAR $51 / $51 / $51

A member of the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir’s stable, this Widden-bred entire was runner-up to Turn Me Lose in the Futurity than was rock-solid in the Blamey at WFA last time. Drawn perfectly and will be prominent throughout.

5 BOW CREEK $26 / $15 / $15

Was awesome in the Peter Young before getting into an awkward spot in a farcically run Australian Cup. Beat only two home but was less than two-lengths from the winner Preferment, which is great form. Has won three times at the mile. Stable and jockey are on fire!

6 FIRST SEAL $11 / $13 / $15

This filly has beaten Winx five times but the Waller mare got one back, and how, when winning the Ryder, with First Seal fourth. Tommy Berry and gate one give her a chance.

7 VOLKSTOK ‘N’ BARRELL $26 / $26 / $26

A very tough and genuine Kiwi who is 4s 3w at the mile and arrives here off a narrow but brave win in the G1 NZ Stakes at Ellerslie n March 12. Won a G1 at Otaki before that and he did win the Rosehill Guineas last year, beating Preferment and co, so has the class.

8 GOOD PROJECT $26 / $26 / $26

Has managed to record any black-type placings at all before taking out the G1 WATC Railway Stakes in Perth in the summer. Was good in the Liverpool City Cup, less so in the Ajax after that. No weight but he’s no Winx either.

9 ECUADOR $51 / $51 / $51

Was runner-up to the mighty Winx in the Epsom last year at the $26. That grants him some respect as does the fact he is trained by Gai Waterhouse who used to own these big miles until Chris Waller knocked her off her perch.

10 HAPPY CLAPPER $26 / $11 / $11

Vastly underrated galloper from the Pat Webster camp that was fulfilled his Villiers mission in December. He’s had the two runs in, both at G1 level, finishing on the heels of the placegetters both times. This is his GF and he arrives in great shape and with no weight.

Happy Clapper could be the surprise packet in the Doncaster Mile. Picture: Jenny Evans

11 AZKADELLIA $15 / $13 / $13

Kiwi-bred mare trained by Ciaron Maher that was a half-length second to Peeping in the Coolmore last time. Has a big finish, no weight and a fellow called Glen Boss to ride. He’s ridden six Doncaster winners, including last year on Kermadec, before this — boy, does he peak on the day.

12 HE OR SHE $101 / $26 / $26

Hayes/Dabernig gelding that boasts the enviable record of 18s 9-2-1. Ran a huge race in Turn Me Loose’s Emirates and comes off a win in the Blamey over subsequent G1 winner The United States. Each-way player.

13 RUDY $101 / $51 / $51

If it’s heavy — he might be the one. The Queenslander is a deadset Rough Habit in the slop and he is a track and distance winner. Drawn the outside alley but probably makes no difference to him.

14 AOMEN $101 / $201 / $201

One of two from the Anthony Cummings stable. Anthony loves to use the phrase ‘have a throw at the stumps’ — this one winning would be like throwing down middle stump on Bradman from the boundary into the wind. Good luck though; you can’t win them from at home in High Street.

15 VERGARA $101 / $101 / $101

See above.

HONOUR ROLL

Since 2000

2015 — Kermadec

2014 — Sacred Falls

2013 — Sacred Falls

2012 — More Joyous

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2010 — Rangirangdoo

2009 — Vision and Power

2008 — Triple Honour

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2006 — Racing To Win

2005 — Patezza

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2002 — Sunline

2001 — Assertive Lad

2000 — Over