<p>High-class handicap thoroughbred racing is relatively unique to Australia, and there is no better example of that than the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), race 8 (4.35pm AEST) at Randwick racecourse on Saturday, April 6.</p> <p>Such is the depth of quality in this year’s Doncaster Mile, hardly a horse in the 20-horse field (plus four emergencies) that would make a set of Doncaster Mile Tips.</p> <p>The Group 1 Doncaster Mile presents punters with a magnificent cross-section of our best “milers” from the established stars at the top of the weights, headed by last year’s The Everest winner Think About It, who will lump 57kg, to an impressive group of classy lightly weighted horses such as Another Wil and Celestial Legend, who carry only 50kg and 49kg respectively.</p> <p>The past two Doncaster Miles were won by Mr Brightside, who is missing this race in preference to next week’s $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, run over 2000m. His absence hasn’t detracted from the quality of this field.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Japanese Raider on&nbsp;the Radar</h2> <p>Adding spice to the soup that is the Doncaster Mile Tips is the Japanese star Obamburumai, who last spring shocked the locals when he won the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 4.</p> <p>Like most Japanese horses, the likely prospect of an extremely wet track will be foreign to Obamburamai, however, he has at least one of his four wins on a slow surface. The BOM is predicting a monumental rain dump on Randwick that will result in a heavy and, therefore, horses with proven wet-track form will be prominent in the Doncaster Mile tips.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Waller and Maher dominate the Doncaster Mile field</h2> <p>Two of Australia’s best trainers, Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, could saddle half of the 24-horse Doncaster Mile field (emergencies included) between them, emphasising their dominance of our racing. Waller is chasing a record-equalling seventh Doncaster Mile. For Maher it will be a first.</p> <p>Five of Waller’s select six – Militarize, Zougotcha, Kovalica, Lindermann and Hinged (2nd emergency) – are Group 1 winners. Only Democracy Manifest has to tick that box.</p> <p>Only two of Maher’s six have won at Group 1 level – Detonator Jack and Southport Tycoon. His other four are Berkshire Shadow, Semana, Another Wil and Nugget.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Wet Trackers and the Tempo</h2> <p>Horses with seriously good wet-track form that should be in your Doncaster Mile tips include Pericles, Zougotcha, Detonator Jack, Lady Laguna, Democracy Manifest, Loch Eagle, Semana and Another Wil.</p> <p>Usually in these big handicap fields, the tempo of the race will be in the fast range as horses, especially those with light weights, jostle for a forward position. The likely pacesetters are the longshots Attractable and Phearson, but expect Golden Mile, Zougotcha, Lindermann and even Think About It to push forward. One of the emergencies to keep an eye on if he gets a start is Nugget, who ran a luckless third behind Mr Brightside in this race last year.</p> <p>Those interested in history when calculating the racing tips should note that although 34 mares have won the Doncaster Mile, which is a healthy number, since 1990 only five mares have won the Doncaster Mile, and they are all champions – Winx (2016), More Joyous (2012), Private Steer (2004), Sunline (2000, 1999) and Skating (1993).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Leading 2024 Doncaster Mile Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Celestial Legend</strong></p> <p>Dynamic grey colt trained by 85-year-old Les Bridge who trained his only Doncaster Mile winner in 1985 when Row Of Waves caused an upset. This time Bridge has one of the top racing tips who he set for the race after he won the G1 Randwick Guineas over the same course on March 9. With only 49kg and crack apprentice Tyler Schiller, after a week of eating bananas, in the saddle, Celestial Legend is the top Doncaster Mile tip after drawing barrier 6.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Another Wil</strong></p> <p>Another Wil earned his place in the Doncaster Mile after winning last week’s Doncaster Prelude over 1400m. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has won five of his seven starts and each performance has been better than the previous one. Jamie Kah, who won the Doncaster Mile on Cascadian in 2021, takes the ride. Don’t be worried by the wide draw (barrier 21) because on wet ground, wide is likely to be the place to be.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Militarize</strong></p> <p>Three-time Group 1 winner in the powerful Chris Waller stable. He was pipped on the line by Celestial Legend in the Randwick Guineas and meets him on 5kg worse terms. However, he’s a class act, Zac Purton comes from Hong Kong to ride him, and he’s drawn ideally in barrier four.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Obamburumai</strong></p> <p>This Japanese horse came to Australia last spring unheralded, even in his own country, but he produced a withering finish to win the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill. The big Randwick track will suit and jockey Damian Lane the racing style of the Japanese horse very well. His Japanese name means “let’s celebrate with a drink”, so let’s raise a saké to him if he can get the job done again.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lady Laguna</strong></p> <p>A mare who keeps proving her doubters wrong. She won the G1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and then just failed to run down Veight in the G1 George Ryder (1500m). She handles all types of going and she’s as tough as old (wet) boots.</p>

<h2>Doncaster Mile 2024 Odds</h2>