Doncaster Prelude

The Doncaster Prelude is a Group 3 race offering the winner a ballot exemption into the Doncaster Mile field during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

2023 Doncaster Prelude Results

  • 1st: #4 Bandersnatch
  • 2nd: #15 Welwal
  • 3rd: #6 Diamil



The Doncaster Prelude is a Group 3 race conducted at Rosehill Gardens* in late March (early April in 2021) offering a spot in the year’s Doncaster Mile field to the winner.

*Note: The 2022 Doncaster Prelude ran at Newcastle Racecourse the Monday after Rosehill’s abandoned Tancred Stakes Day meeting. 

Part of Tancred Stakes Day each Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, the Doncaster Prelude is a quality handicap event run over 1500m worth $200,000 in prize money as of 2023. It takes place on the same day as two elite level races – the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) and the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

Horses running in the Doncaster Prelude field are usually eyeing a seven day back-up into the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’, but the Group 3 doesn’t have a record of producing Doncaster Mile winners. In 2014 the Prelude winner Weary backed-up and finished third to Sacred Falls in that year’s Doncaster Mile trifecta. He also placed second later that month in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

Another next-up option for Doncaster Prelude graduates is the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick a fortnight later. Gallopers also often do well if they head up to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival targeting events like the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May.

The Doncaster Prelude 2023 ran on Saturday March 25, 2023 at Rosehill Gardens on Tancred Stakes Day and was won in emphatic fashion by the Hawkes Racing-trained Bandersnatch ($7.50).  

2023 Doncaster Prelude
Date: Saturday March 25, 2023
Track: Rosehill Racecourse 
Distance: 1500m
Race Type: Quality Handicap
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Doncaster Prelude Results

  • 1st: #4 Bandersnatch ($7.50)
  • 2nd: #15 Welwal
  • 3rd: #6 Diamil

The Team Hawkes-trained Bandersnatch ($7.50) is into the Group 1 Doncaster Prelude with a light-weight after his emphatic two-length success in the Doncaster Prelude 2023 results at Rosehill.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 4 BANDERSNATCH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 7 56.5kg $7.50
2 15 WELWAL (GB) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 2.16L 9 53kg $12
3 6 DIAMIL (IRE) John O’Shea Tom Marquand 2.68L 2 56.5kg $14
4 5 CROSS TALK (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 2.74L 6 56.5kg $3.90F
5 3 YONKERS (USA) Chris Waller Joshua Parr 3.33L 3 57.5kg $51
6 2 SKYMAN (GB) Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 3.55L 1 57.5kg $11
7 18e CUBAN ROYALE Robert & Luke Price Robbie Dolan 3.78L 10 54kg $16
8 14 TIMES SQUARE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tyler Schiller (a) 4.29L 8 53kg $18
9 8 NEW MANDATE (IRE) Chris Waller Ryan Maloney 4.56L 14 55.5kg $19
10 7 RIODINI (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Rachel King 5.27L 4 56kg $16
11 11 LORD ARDMORE (NZ) Chris Waller Dylan Gibbons (a) 5.42L 16 54kg $61
12 10 KUKERACHA (NZ) Chris Waller Sam Clipperton 5.6L 15 55kg $101
13 16 WORSFOLD Nick Ryan Tom Sherry 7.01L 5 53kg $18
14 9 GREAT HOUSE (IRE) Chris Waller John Allen 7.27L 11 55kg $71
15 1 MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Zac Lloyd (a) 7.57L 12 59kg $81
16 12 WATERFORD (IRE) Chris Waller Brett Prebble 8.79L 13 53.5kg $5
20e KISS THE BRIDE (NZ) Bjorn Baker 0
21e ESTI FENY (HUN) Matthew Smith Tyler Schiller (a) 0
22e ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller 0
17e CAESARS PALACE Anthony Cummings Jay Ford 0
13 MUNHAMEK (GB) Nick Ryan Regan Bayliss 0
19e LAURE ME IN David Pfieffer 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Doncaster Prelude Betting

The top Doncaster Prelude 2023 odds and betting markets will be available below as soon as markets on the autumn Group 3 are open at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Yao Dash ($3.90 in 2021) followed by Mr Mozart ($3.50 in 2022) are the last favourites in Doncaster Prelude betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 DONCASTER PRELUDE ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Doncaster Prelude Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 DONCASTER PRELUDE FORM GUIDE

2023 Doncaster Prelude Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Doncaster Prelude 2023 Tips on the important Group 1 lead-up this autumn.

  • To Win: #5 Cross Talk ($3.90 at time of publish) 

Hard to knock the in-form favourite Cross Talk from the stables of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. The Keano five-year-old is really starting to put it together now. He put the writing on the wall with a last start victory in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m), and he presents fit third-up here. Proven at the track and distance he’ll get a gun run from gate eight with Tim Clark retaining the ride. No doubt this is tougher with an extra two kilos on his back, but is going in the right direction in a winnable edition of the Prelude.

2023 Doncaster Prelude Field

The Doncaster Prelude field attracts quality middle-distance gallopers eyeing a late autumn Group 1 run in a race like the Doncaster Mile or All Aged Stakes and is released by Racing NSW the Wednesday before Tancred Stakes Day.

The official Doncaster Prelude 2023 field and barriers will be out on Wednesday March 22, 2023 and released right here.

The 2023 Doncaster Prelude final field features a capacity line-up of Doncaster Mile hopefuls including Cross Talk coming off a Group 3 Newcastle Stakes win and Bandersnatch for Team Hawkes down in grade off a lead-up fourth in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 88x9213x9x MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Zac Lloyd (a) 17 59kg 107
2 31x1x7701x SKYMAN (GB) Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 1 57.5kg 104
3 173x54250x YONKERS (USA) Chris Waller Joshua Parr 4 57.5kg 104
4 00x3200x34 BANDERSNATCH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 9 56.5kg 102
5 1211338×21 CROSS TALK (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 8 56.5kg 102
6 1x881401x9 DIAMIL (IRE) John O’Shea Tom Marquand 2 56.5kg 102
7 90x0816x57 RIODINI (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Rachel King 5 56kg 101
8 0x1804x79x NEW MANDATE (IRE) Chris Waller Ryan Maloney (late alt) 20 55.5kg 100
9 240x30088x GREAT HOUSE (IRE) Chris Waller John Allen 14 55kg 99
10 06x890627x KUKERACHA (NZ) Chris Waller Sam Clipperton 21 55kg 99
11 3x2113408x LORD ARDMORE (NZ) Chris Waller Dylan Gibbons (a) 22 54kg 97
12 x1x1191x52 WATERFORD (IRE) Chris Waller Brett Prebble 18 53.5kg 96
13 3230252311 MUNHAMEK (GB) Nick Ryan Regan Bayliss 11 53.5kg 96
14 32x7307x1x TIMES SQUARE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tyler Schiller (a) 10 53kg 98
15 x2160x0x95 WELWAL (GB) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 12 53kg 95
16 30x25x1128 WORSFOLD Nick Ryan Tom Sherry 6 53kg 79
17e 76010×2413 CAESARS PALACE Anthony Cummings Jay Ford 16 53kg 94
18e 467×114133 CUBAN ROYALE Robert & Luke Price Chad Schofield 13 54kg 93
19e x005739x80 LAURE ME IN David Pfieffer 15 54kg 92
20e 00x011960x KISS THE BRIDE (NZ) Bjorn Baker 7 53kg 92
21e 6643x7808x ESTI FENY (HUN) Matthew Smith Tyler Schiller (a) 3 53kg 85
22e 4x7675123x ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller 19 56kg 105

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Doncaster Prelude Nominations

The Doncaster Prelude 2023 nominations close on Monday March 20, 2023 and will be published below in full once out.

The 2023 Doncaster Prelude nominations attracted 31 milers led in all-in betting by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained last start Group 3 Newcastle Stakes winner Cross Talk.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 0x01661310 ASCENSION (GB) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 94
2 4x7675123x ATISHU (NZ) M 5 Chris Waller 105
3 00x3200x34 BANDERSNATCH G 6 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 102
4 76010×2413 CAESARS PALACE G 5 Anthony Cummings 94
5 1211338×21 CROSS TALK (NZ) G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 102
6 467×114133 CUBAN ROYALE G 8 Robert & Luke Price 93
7 1x881401x9 DIAMIL (IRE) G 5 John O’Shea 102
8 217x12426x DREAMFLIGHT (GB) H 4 Bjorn Baker 90
9 6643x7808x ESTI FENY (HUN) G 8 Matthew Smith 85
10 240x30088x GREAT HOUSE (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 99
11 2x8980x031 IT’S TORNADO STORM G 6 Rory Hunter 76
12 x6202220x4 JUST FOLK G 6 Josh Julius 104
13 221x500x67 KISS SUM G 4 Tracey Bartley 89
14 00x011960x KISS THE BRIDE (NZ) G 7 Bjorn Baker 92
15 06x890627x KUKERACHA (NZ) G 5 Chris Waller 99
16 x005739x80 LAURE ME IN G 8 David Pfieffer 92
17 3x2113408x LORD ARDMORE (NZ) G 5 Chris Waller 97
18 88x9213x9x MOUNT POPA (IRE) G 8 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 107
19 3230252311 MUNHAMEK (GB) G 7 Nick Ryan 96
20 624430×796 MYSTERY SHOT G 6 Matthew Dale 84
21 0x1804x79x NEW MANDATE (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 100
22 147x4500x0 OUR PLAYBOY G 5 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 97
23 90x0816x57 RIODINI (NZ) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 101
24 31x1x7701x SKYMAN (GB) G 7 Chris Waller 104
25 32x7307x1x TIMES SQUARE (FR) M 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 98
26 1212x143x0 VISINARI (FR) G 6 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 95
27 x1x1191x52 WATERFORD (IRE) H 4 Chris Waller 96
28 x2160x0x95 WELWAL (GB) H 4 Chris Waller 95
29 00314210×6 WILD CHAP G 6 Brett Lazzarini 93
30 30x25x1128 WORSFOLD G 6 Nick Ryan 79
31 173x54250x YONKERS (USA) G 7 Chris Waller 104

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Doncaster Prelude History

The Doncaster Prelude was first run in 1985 and won by Bring Home. It is officially registered as the Royal Prama – named after the 1968 Golden Slipper Stakes winner. It has been known as the Doncaster Prelude since 2010 and has been conducted over distances ranging from 1400m – 1600m. It started as a Listed race before gaining Group 3 status in 2011 and from 2010 – 2013 ran at Royal Randwick.

Notable Doncaster Prelude winners include Defier (2002), Helsinborg (2003), My Kingdom Of Fife (2011) and Weary (2014).

In 2019 trainer Chris Waller won his fifth Doncaster Prelude and second on the trot with Mister Sea Wolf (2019) who had ran third behind stablemate Cellarman the year before.

In 2022 the Doncaster Prelude was moved from Rosehill on Saturday the 26th of March to Newcastle on Monday the 28th of March due to unsafe Heavy track conditions and rainfall.

Recent Doncaster Prelude Winners

Below has a table of Doncaster Prelude results and winners going back to 2000 to help with betting on the current season’s race.

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Doncaster Prelude
1st Bandersnatch 1 minute 29.97 seconds
2nd Welwal
3rd Diamil
2022
Doncaster Prelude
1st Mr Mozart 1 minute 31.74 seconds
2nd Our Playboy
3rd Dajraan
2021
Doncaster Prelude
1st Yao Dash 1 minute 28.34 seconds
2nd Mister Sea Wolf
3rd Bottega
2020
Doncaster Prelude
1st Cascadian 1 minute 31.66 seconds
2nd Mask Of Time
3rd Gaulois
2019
Doncaster Prelude
1st Mister Sea Wolf 1 minute 34.47 seconds
2nd Abdon
3rd Tom Melbourne
2018
Doncaster Prelude
1st Cellarman 1 minute 29.99 seconds
2nd Ecuador
3rd Mister Sea Wolf
2017
Doncaster Prelude
1st Spectroscope 1 minute 33.65 seconds
2nd No Doubt
3rd Marenostro
2016
Doncaster Prelude
1st Havana Cooler 1 minute 29.0 seconds
2nd Cosmic Cube
3rd Rudy
2015
Doncaster Prelude
1st Excess Knowledge 1 minute 29.8 seconds
2nd Malice
3rd Leebaz
2014
Doncaster Prelude
1st Weary 1 minute 31.4 seconds
2nd Leebaz
3rd I’m Imposing
2013
Doncaster Prelude
1st Skyerush 1 minute 36.1 seconds
2nd Alma’s Fury
3rd Illo
2012
Doncaster Prelude
1st Fast Clip 1 minute 35.2 seconds
2nd Speediness
3rd Alma’s Fury
2011
Doncaster Prelude
1st My Kingdom Of Fife 1 minute 34.8 seconds
2nd Hidden Wonder
3rd Bold Glance
2010
Doncaster Prelude
1st Brilliant Light 1 minute 35.7 seconds
2nd Gold Water
3rd Snapy Halo
2009
Doncaster Prelude
1st Dao Dao 1 minute 24.7 seconds
2nd Musket
3rd Pins On Parade
2008
Doncaster Prelude
1st Valedictum 1 minute 26.3 seconds
2nd Master Magic
3rd Theseo
2007
Doncaster Prelude
1st Mr Ubiquitous 1 minute 23.8 seconds
2nd Mystery City
3rd A Country Girl
2006
Doncaster Prelude
1st Gorgonite 1 minute 22.8 seconds
2nd Mindreader
3rd Legendary Man
2005
Doncaster Prelude
1st Osca Warrior 1 minute 29.0 seconds
2nd Fire At Will
3rd Gabfest
2004
Doncaster Prelude
1st Allgunadoit 1 minute 28.8 seconds
2nd Cariboo
3rd Jeremiad
2003
Doncaster Prelude
1st Helsinborg 1 minute 23.2 seconds
2nd On A High
3rd Palladium Star
2002
Doncaster Prelude
1st Defier 1 minute 22.0 seconds
2nd Salgado
3rd Hire
2001
Doncaster Prelude
1st Final Fantasy 1 minute 21.5 seconds
2nd Old Man
3rd Spying
2000
Doncaster Prelude
1st Le Zagaletta 1 minute 30.0 seconds
2nd Summa Cum Laude
3rd Roulette

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