Punter’s favourite Le Romain draws well for Doncaster Mile
LE ROMAIN was the big winner out of Tuesday’s Doncaster Mile barrier draw after the race favourite drew gate 16 for Saturday’s feature at Randwick.
The Kris Lees-trained four-year-old came in half a point to +500 at Sportsbet.com.au after the draw.
Le Romain is looking for its second group one title of the autumn after toppling superstar sprinter Chautauqua in the Canterbury Stakes at the beginning of March.
Chris Waller’s prime elect McCreery drew a wide, but firmed in to $8.50 at Sportsbet.com.au to hand the champion trainer his fifth straight Doncaster Mile title.
Despite just one horse in the last 35 years winning from barrier 17, the market is confident the star five-year-old will have no trouble overcoming the wide alley.
Another light firmer in the market is Godolphin owned Hauraki.
The 2016 Epsom Handicap winner drew barrier 16 for Saturday’s $2 million feature, which is one of the most successful barriers in recent history.
Four runners have saluted from barrier 16 in the last 35 years of the Doncaster Mile.
Hauraki’s stablemate Spectroscope is another runner that drew poorly, but the market is refusing to turn its back on the classy import.
The former American was a stylish winner in last week’s Doncaster Prelude after being caught well back and in traffic, and will carry just 51kg into the race.
The star Godolphin runner will jump from the widest barrier on Saturday, but punters are not ruling out the Medaglia D’oro progeny given Joao Moreira will take the ride.
Spectroscope has drifted slightly in the market to the $13 quote, but Godolphin head trainer John O’Shea believes the horse has the ability to win group races in Australia.
“We think he is quite a nice horse. We think he is up to the top level particularly in Australia,” said trainer John O’Shea.
Despite the strong show of support for Le Romain at Sportsbet, company representative Christian Jantzen believes the Doncaster Mile is as open this year as it has ever been.
“Finding the Doncaster winner is about as tough as it gets for punters. With 20 runners racing over the Randwick mile, anything can happen. At the moment the bulk of money is for Le Romain and Redkirk Warrior,”
2017 Doncaster Mile Market
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Le Romain – +500
Hauraki – $9.00
McCreery – $9.00
Happy Clapper – $10
Redkirk Warrior – $11
Spectroscope – $13
Palentino – $13
Antonio Giuseppe – $13
Hey Doc – $15
I Am A Star – $17
Endless Drama – $17
Heavens Above – $17
Tosen Stardom – $17