Doncaster Mile Scratchings Update: #3 Kirwan’s Lane (24) has been scratched on vet’s advice after returning an irregular pre-race blood profile. #21e Osipenko (1) now gains a start giving trainer Chris Waller five official starters in the Doncaster field this year.

Ben & JD Hayes’ impressive $5 million The All-Star Mile winner out of Melbourne, Mr Brightside, is in Sydney this weekend looking to keep the feature autumn wins coming as favourite in Doncaster Mile 2023 betting.

2023 All-Star Mile winner Mr Brightside races this Saturday in Sydney’s 2023 Doncaster Mile field at Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A capacity line-up of the season’s top middle-distance stars faces off in this weekend’s Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), which is one of four Group 1 Randwick races taking place on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’.

Drawn a treat in gate two with Zac Purton coming aboard for the ride is Bullbars five-year-old Mr Brightside leading Doncaster Mile betting at $5.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

He was excellent over the distance at The Valley on March 18 saluting in the All-Star by a half-length defeating Cascadian.

Cascadian franked the form last weekend going on to win Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), and Mr Brightside is now tipped to do the same north of the border this Saturday.

At his only other Randwick start he won last year’s Doncaster Mile at big odds on the back of an All-Star Mile fourth.

Arguably going better this prep the more mature performer does go up from 50kg last year to 55.5kg, but still looks a hard to beat favourite off the hot form.

The danger occupying the second line of betting drawn out wide in gate 19 (16 with emergencies out) is the talented Chris Waller-trained Fangirl.

Ace Brazilian hoop Joao Moreira is in town for the ride on the four-year-old daughter of Sebring who is out to join Nettoyer (2020) as the only Doncaster Mile winning mares since Winx (2016).

Fangirl is a perennial place-getter this prep coming off a trio of top three runs in Sydney all behind Godolphin gun Anamoe.

At her latest she was beaten only a quarter-length by the champ in Rosehill’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

She comes back from 57kg at weight-for-age to 53.5kg in the Doncaster Mile weights looking a big chance down in the kilos chasing her first win since the Vinery Stud Stakes 12 months ago.

Waller has a lovely Doncaster Mile record preparing six previous winners, but none since Winx.

He has a total of four in the Doncaster Mile final field on Saturday plus the first emergency Osipenko ($17) who drew the inside alley.

Following Fangirl in the markets his next best fancied at Doncaster Mile odds is the $8 third elect Zougotcha.

The smart young Zoustar filly has an impressive Randwick strike-rate (5:3-1-0) including her Group 1 Flight Stakes success at the track and trip last October.

She has had two runs this time in when fourth fresh narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) before improving to post a one-length win in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) on March 11.

Zougotcha comes back from 54.4kg to a 50.5kg light-weight on Saturday against the older horses with Kerrin McEvoy coming aboard.

Classy European import Going Global makes her Australian race debut for the stable looking to add to her excellent mile record (5:4-1-0) as 40/1 outside, while last start Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winning Lonhro colt Lindermann ($19) completes the Waller contingent looking overs.

Others higher up the markets being kept safe in better include the William Haggas-trained British raider Protagonist ($10) coming off a winning debut down under in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) and the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained 57.5kg top-weight Alligator Blood ($11).

Click here for the latest Doncaster Mile 2023 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 Doncaster Mile Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.