The official Doncaster Mile 2018 barrier draw is now complete and Pat Webster’s dual runner-up Happy Clapper has come up trumps with barrier one in his third shot at success, while race favourite Kementari jumps one wider in gate two.

Happy Clapper jumps from barrier one in the Doncaster Mile 2018 field on Saturday at Royal Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

The official Doncaster Mile 2018 barrier draw is now complete and Pat Webster’s dual runner-up Happy Clapper has come up trumps with barrier one in his third shot at success, while race favourite Kementari jumps one wider in gate two.

The Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) features as one of four elite level autumn races at Royal Randwick for Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ and it is shaping-up as an outstanding edition.

Sixteen middle-distance gallopers are in the mix including Teofilo seven-year-old Happy Clapper who ran second to Winx (2016) and It’s Somewhat (2017) in the race the past two years.

This weekend the in-form galloper will jump from barrier two carrying 57kg, a one and a half-kilo rise from his weight last year.

He has earned the extra kilos having won two Group 1 races in the interim, most recently the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on March 10.

Happy Clapper comes off a lead-up second to champion mare Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and will be out to be the first Doncaster Mile winner from barrier one since Haradasun (2007).

Happy Clapper has subsequently firmed in Doncaster Mile betting from $5.50 to $5 through Ladbrokes.com.au post-barrier draw.

Leading the Doncaster Mile odds this weekend at other end of the age scale is Godolphin-raced three-year-old Kementari who is into $3.60 favouritism from $4 after drawing gate two.

The barrier hasn’t produced a winner in over 30 years, but the three-year-olds have beaten the older horses plenty of times including five since 2006.

The Lonhro colt has been in ace form this preparation with a hat-trick of wins including the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 10.

He returns to that track and distance with only 51.5kg on his back, a notable drop from the 56kg he carried at weight-for-age when third to Winx in the George Ryder last time out.

The other top three-year-old in the Doncaster Mile field this year is the Chris Waller-trained grey D’Argento who is the $7 third favourite despite a wide barrier 15 draw.

Waller saddles-up six in the race chasing an incredible seventh win.

Last start winner of the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), So You Think colt D’Argento gets a drop in distance and weight carrying just 49kg on the weekend.

The wide Doncaster Mile barrier may not be such a bad thing for this year’s lightweight contender with recent history showing seven of the past nine winners jumped from barrier 10 or wider.

Also drawn wide for Waller are his perennial runner-up Tom Melbourne (14) and Mister Sea Wolf (16) on the quick back-up having run third in last weekend’s Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m).

Darren Weir’s top-weight Humidor (58kg) has plenty of kilos to overcome on Saturday in his first Sydney run since The BMW (2400m) second 12 months ago, but has drawn favourably in barrier four.

Stablemate Tosen Stardom is in last year’s winning barrier (8), with the duo paying $8 and $26 respectively in the updated markets.

The most successful Doncaster Mile barrier since 1983 producing five winners meanwhile is gate 12 belonging this year to the Kris Lees-trained mare Invincible Gem ($31) coming off a George Ryder fifth.

See below for the full Doncaster Mile 2018 field and barriers before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the updated odds.

2018 Doncaster Mile Field & Barriers

Royal Randwick – 07/04/2018