John Sargent’s in-form colt Brandenburg is the new favourite in Doncaster Mile 2020 betting for this weekend’s feature race at Royal Randwick following the release of the final field and barriers on Tuesday.

Well-weighted colt Brandenburg is favourite to win the 2020 Doncaster Mile on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

A capacity line-up of 20 starters plus four emergencies are engaged for Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), the classic worth a reduced $1.5 million for 2020 to help cope with the growing financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian racing.

Despite the lesser prizemoney on offer, the Doncaster Mile field and class size remains outstanding and the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Burgundy three-year-old Brandenburg as the one to beat.

First-up winner of the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill back in February, the youngster subsequently ran under a length third to Shadow Hero in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 7.

His latest start saw him tested against the older horses at weight-for-age in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Golden Slipper Day when he carried 56.5kg to a brave fourth only 1.7 lengths off the winner Dreamforce.

For Saturday’s showdown, Brandenburg drops right back to just 50kg for the Doncaster Mile and has six-time winning hoop Glen Boss booked for the ride.

Boss rode his sixth Doncaster Mile winner last year when successful aboard the Team Hawkes-trained Brutal (2019) who became the fifth three-year-old since 2007 to salute in the event.

Money is now on Brandenburg to be the next from a favourable barrier seven draw this weekend, the up-and-comer paying $6.50 and firming in the Doncaster Mile odds through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Despite the size of the field, just two other hopefuls are currently under $10 in Doncaster Mile betting with star 10-time Group 1 winning Kiwi mare Melody Belle ($8) and early market mover Super Seth ($15 into $8) considered the dangers.

One-time favourite, the Jamie Richards-trained Melody Belle has work to do drawn in barrier 14 and carrying the equal 56.5kg topweight in the race along with the Chris Waller-trained Kolding ($13).

The brilliant five-year-old daughter of Commands chases her first victory since breaking her elite level duck down under in the spring with success in the Flemington’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day.

She has had three subsequent runs for three runs in the trifecta, her latest at Caulfield on March 14 behind the WA duo of Regal Power (1^st) and Superstorm (2^nd) in the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m).

No doubting Melody Belle is an excellent miler with her record over the distance (6:4-0-1), but it looks a tough assignment with that weight for her and jockey Opie Bosson on the weekend.

Super Seth meanwhile is another ace three-year-old in the mix looking to continue the strong record of the well-weighted youngsters in the event.

The Anthony Freedman-trained Dundeel colt carries a little bit more weight with 54.5kg as he looks to atone for his seventh in the George Ryder Stakes last time out.

Prior to that the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas winner was in exciting form and there is big early money to suggest he can return to that in his Randwick debut in the Doncaster.

Waller has prepared no less than six Doncaster Mile winners, his latest in 2016 with equine superstar Winx (2016), and the master horseman looks hungry for more success with nine final acceptors.

Eight are assured a run, while third emergency Reloaded looks unlikely to get a call-up.

Along with the aforementioned equal topweight Kolding out in gate 17, Shared Ambition ($10), the very widely drawn Imaging ($13) and Mister Sea Wolf ($16) are considered the top hopes from the stable.

Shared Ambition carries 52kg after a one-kilogram penalty, the super consistent four-year-old last seen winning the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) on March 7 as the odds-on favourite.

Freshened-up since, the six-time winner has career start number nine and chases his first win over less than 1800m in the Group 1.

Kerrin McEvoy rides Oasis Dream entire Imaging who suffered an early blow drawing barrier 20, the galloper coming off a lead-up win at Rosehill in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) in the mud.

Mister Sea Wolf looks the likely improver second-up with the eight-year-old veteran, winner of the $1 million The Gong (1600m) last November, looking to overcome his Randwick hoodoo on the back of a third in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

Other notable final acceptors include Godolphin’s Doncaster Prelude winner Cascadian on the quick back-up ($17) and Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s Coolmore Classic winning mare Con Te Partiro ($31) at blowout odds.

Click here for the latest Doncaster Mile 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Doncaster Mile Field & Barrier Draw