Horse Racing

Nominations for one of the richest races of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival have been released with 190 hopefuls entered for the Doncaster Mile 2013.

Reigning winner More Joyous is set to defend her title in the Doncaster Mile 2013

Considered one of the thoroughbred ‘majors’ on the annual Australian horse racing calendar this year’s edition of the $2 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) is due to take centre stage at Royal Randwick on Saturday April 20, 2013.

Won last autumn by the mighty Gai Waterhouse-trained mare More Joyous, the 2013 Doncaster Mile Handicap is again shaping up as a beauty with the defending champ nominated to defend her title.

Among Waterhouse’s 14 Doncaster Mile entries this year are also the likes of champion three-year-old colts Proisir and Pierro, winner of the autumn 2YO triple crown who was last seen running a brave third in the Cox Plate.

Last year’s Doncaster Mile runner-up Shoot Out is also nominated to contest the feature again this year as one of 21 entries for Chris Waller along with the likes of stable veteran Danleigh, former European Gatewood who won the Geelong Cup in the spring and 2008 Doncaster Mile winner Triple Honour.

A notable omission from the Doncaster Mile entries for Waller was his 2010 champ Rangirangdoo who will bypass the autumn in Sydney for a Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign, their final before retirement.

Darley’s Peter Snowden also looks to have a strong hand in this year’s Doncaster with seven classy entries including Lonhro three-year-old Academus last seen winning the WA Guineas, Redoute’s Choice colt Albrecht who was a brave second in the Golden Rose behind fellow Doncaster entry Epaulette.

Esteemed Victorian horseman Peter Moody is also right in the Doncaster Mile mix in 2013 with seven entries including last autumn’s star runner Manighar who took out the Australian Cup – Ranvet Stakes – The BMW triple, reigning Stradbroke Handicap winner Mid Summer Music, Rupert Clarke Stakes winning four-year-old Moment Of Change and exciting former Luca Cumani-trained stayer My Quest For Peace.

Ace Brisbane horseman Rob Heathcote will also try for his maiden Doncaster Mile winner having nominated for his Toorak Handicap champ Solzhenitsyn and Woorim who hasn’t won a race since their first-up victory in last year’s Oakleigh Plate.

Other big name 2013 Doncaster Mile Nominations include:

• All Too Hard (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes) – Recently sold by Nathan Tinkler, Black Caviar’s boom half-brother was on fire last prep winning the Caulfield Guineas before their close second to Ocean Park in the Cox Plate
• Commanding Jewel (Leon Corstens) – Also famous by association being a half-sister of Atlantic Jewel, this Commands filly broke her Group 1 maiden status last time out with a big three length effort in the Thousand Guineas
• Ethiopia (Pat Carey) – Helenus four-year-old won the Australian Derby as a 3YO and looking to bounce back this time in after breaking down in the Melbourne Cup
• Fiveandahalfstar (Anthony Cummings) – consistent Hotel Grand gelding in flying form late in the spring with three straight wins including their boilover win in the Victoria Derby as a $40 roughie

Late entries close at 11am (AEST) on Friday March 1 before 2013 Doncaster Mile first acceptances are taken on Tuesday March 12.

The Doncaster Mile 2013 final field and barriers will then be released on Tuesday April 16.

Bookmark us here at Races.com.au for all the Doncaster Mile field and betting updates.

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2013 Doncaster Mile Handicap Nominations

Royal Randwick – 20/04/2013