Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse has told the punters to put their money on Arbeitsam in Saturday week’s 2018 Doncaster Mile following the four-year-old’s soft win in Saturday’s Neville Sellwood Stakes.

Next week’s 2018 Doncaster Mile calls for all-the-way Neville Sellwood Stakes winner Arbeitsam. Photo: Steve Hart.

Waterhouse said the team at Tulloch Lodge specifically chose the Group 3 $150,000 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) on Easter Saturday at Rosehill Gardens for Arbeitsam over the Group 3 $150,000 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) held later on the day over less distance.

“We specifically chose this race to aid him to get into the Doncaster,” Waterhouse said post-win on Easter Saturday.

“I just felt the 2000m would be easier than the 1500m Prelude.”

It proved a winning move as the Snitzel gelding led all-the-way for an impressive Neville Sellwood Stakes success at his first look at the 2000m distance.

“It was a lovely win,” Waterhouse said.

“Very pleased to see this dynamic horse win.”

Enjoying his first turf triumph since the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury back in August last year, Arbeitsam is now set to back-up on successive Saturdays heading to Royal Randwick for the Group 1 $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m).

“Have your money on him!” Waterhouse declared with Arbeitsam dropping from 55kg in the Neville Sellwood to 50kg in the Doncaster Mile weights.

On Tancred Stakes Day, Arbeitsam was given a well-judged ride from jockey Tim Clark who got the horse into an easy lead out of the gates without too much pressure on early.

“Did you see how cushily [sic] Tim Clark hard him going?” Waterhouse said.

“He didn’t overextend him he just got him into a beautiful rhythm and the gelding just kept extending.”

Getting a nice, soft temp the first 400m in the run, the eventual winner simply rolled along getting things his way up front as the in-form Canberra Cup winner Almost Court tugged along in second ahead of the Chris Waller-trained duo of McCreery and Mackintosh.

At the 600m mark rival jockey Christian Reith tried to increase the pressure aboard Almost Court, but Arbeitsam ($4.40) was travelling too good.

Once Clark put the pedal down in the final furlong, his horse responded and recorded a terrific win over a fast-finishing Maurus ($21) who closed off hard for a late second ahead of Almost Court ($10) who held for third.

Before the Neville Sellwood Stakes results Arbeitsam was at $61 in pre-field Doncaster Mile betting, the horse now firming into $26 at Ladbrokes.com.au to had Waterhouse a record eighth victory in the handicap classic and her first since More Joyous (2012).

To back the Neville Sellwood Stakes winner Arbeitsam next race at the best Doncaster Mile 2018 odds visit Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2018 Neville Sellwood Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 2 – 31/03/2018