Chris Waller aiming for Doncaster Mile record with gun quartet
CHRIS Waller has his eye on another record this Saturday.
The winner of the last four Doncaster Miles and six overall, Waller has four chances in Saturday’s group one race to match the great TJ Smith’s record of seven winners in the event.
Waller takes in second favourite McCreery (+800 at Sportsbet.com.au), which will run alongside stablemates Antonio Giuseppe ($15 at Crownbet.com.au), Irish import Endless Drama at $17 and Arod at $101.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth said McCreery has the slight edge on its stable companions going into Saturday’s $2 million race.
“He was very competitive in these sort of races in the spring – in these Group 1 handicaps – and he’s obviously gone from strength to strength since,” Duckworth said.
“He was fantastic first-up this prep (winning Liverpool Stakes) and he’s back down to a reasonable weight – he’s only a small horse – the 59 (kilos) last start (in weight-for-age George Ryder) was a bit tough for him.
“So back to 52 kilos on his back, he should be right in the mix.”
Of the remaining three chances, Duckworth believes Antonio Giuseppe is the next best chance for the stable.
“Antonio Giuseppe is dropping back in trip but is having blinkers fitted to him and that should help sharpen him up,” Duckworth explained.
“He did win over 1500m first-up this prep, so I don’t think the distance will be any trouble at all.”
Can Waller’s fantastic four hand the champion trainer his fifth-straight Doncaster Mile?
Champion trainer Chris Waller has made the Doncaster Mile his own over the last four years.
After gun runners Winx, Kermadec and Sacred Falls (twice) combined to keep his stranglehold on the $2 million race, Waller will take some highly-credentialed horses into Saturday, but none punters would consider elite.
Sportsbet.com.au has McCreery has Waller’s best hope at $9, but none of the remaining three runners are under single figures.
Antonio Giuseppe is at $15, Endless Drama is at $17 and Arod is at a triple figure quote for the group one at Randwick.
It’s hardly a quartet that makes you sit up and take notice.
Over the last two years Winx and Kermadec have come into the Doncaster Mile as red-hot favourites and have justified the price – Waller’s runners here do not inspire the same confidence.
You can never write off a Waller runner in a group one race in Sydney, but race favourite Le Romain ($6.50 at Sportsbet.com.au) and in particular French import Spectroscope ($12 at Crownbet.com.au) look to be the pair best placed to take out the race.
Is 2017 going to be Waller’s Mile again? It would be foolish to completely discount the champion trainer, but we will be looking elsewhere on Saturday.
2017 Doncaster Mile All-In Market
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Le Romain – $6.50
Hauraki – $9
Redkirk Warrior – $10
Happy Clapper – $11
Spectroscope – $12
Antonio Giuseppe – $15
Hey Doc – $15
I Am A Star – $15
Tosen Stardom – $17
Palentino – $17
Endless Drama – $17
Man From Uncle – $26
Ecuador – $31
It’s Somewhat – $34
Foxplay – $51
Heavens Above – $51
Dixie Blossoms – $51
Danish Twist – $51
Dibayani – $51
New Tipperary – $51
Sense Of Occasion – $61
Hartnell – $67
Echo Effect – $67
First Seal – $81
Foundation – $101
French Emotion – $101
Tom Melbourne – $101
Too Good To Refuse – $101
Thames Court – $101
Divine Prophet – $101
Euro Angel – $101
Cylinder Beach – $101
Cannyescent – $101
English – $101
Single Gaze – $101
Russian Revolution – $101
Ugo Foscolo – $101
Lucky Hussler – $101
Vanbrugh – $101
Shillelagh – $101
Arod – $101
Mime – $101