Kris Lees’ $5 million The All-Star Mile champion Mugatoo is in Sydney this weekend for Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ and after a favourable barrier four draw, is tipped to win the 2021 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick.

All-Star Mile winner Mugatoo heads to Sydney for the 2021 Doncaster Mile this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A gun field faces off in this season’s Group 1 $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Saturday including six-year-old import Mugatoo backing up from his half-length win in The All-Star Mile at The Valley.

He carted 59kg to victory second-up and drops back to 56kg carrying the equal Doncaster Mile top weight along with Avilius and Samadoubt.

Jockey Hugh Bowman retains the ride chasing his second Doncaster Mile success following his 2016 victory aboard the heroic mare Winx.

Mugatoo came up trumps with gate four in the capacity Doncaster Mile field and is out to continue his flawless 1600m record.

Presenting fit third-up he is out to be the first favourite in Doncaster Mile betting since Winx to salute for the punters and sits at a current quote of $4.20 to do so through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Despite the size of the field just three other runners are currently under $10 in the Doncaster Mile odds to win including the $7 second elect Mo’unga for Annabel Neasham.

The progressive young Savabeel colt is out to beat home the older horses on the back of his brave lead-up victory in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), but has suffered an early blow drawing out wide in barrier 21.

That will become gate 19 of 20 on race day and gives jockey Robbie Dolan a real task.

Aiding his cause is the huge weight relief with Mo’unga coming back from 56.5kg in the Rosehill Guineas to just 49.5kg in the Doncaster Mile weights.

Two other runners are then equal on $9 with Think It Over and Yao Dash both coming off lead-up victories and drawn in barriers 18 and 11 respectively.

The continually underrated Kerry Parker-trained So You Think five-year-old Think It Over comes into the race in outstanding form, last seen winning the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in a boilover.

He looks overs again out to do the double for the first time since Winx (2016) and comes down from 59kg to 52.5kg (including a half-kilo penalty) with Glen Boss retaining the ride.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Smart Missile four-year-old Yao Dash is also a nice light-weight hope allocated just 50.5kg on the quick back-up.

He earned his spot in the field via an impressive runaway 3.5 length win in last Saturday’s Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) and is out to make history as the first horse to back-up and win the Group 1.

Trainer Chris Waller has an outstanding record in the Doncaster Mile having prepared six winners since 2007.

Winx was his last five years ago, and the master Sydney-based Hall of Famer is in with two confirmed chances this season with Star Of The Seas ($34) and Funstar ($20) plus the second emergency Wheelhouse ($34).

Click here for the latest Doncaster Mile 2021 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Doncaster Mile Field & Barriers

   Table Credit: Racing Australia.