The Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) headlines Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday, and below we have our best bets and insider tips on the autumn classic.

2023 Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann looks a genuine roughie hope in the Doncaster Mile this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

A capacity field of middle-distance stars faces off in this year’s Doncaster including Ben & JD Hayes’ last start $5 million The All-Star Mile champion out of Melbourne Mr Brightside.

Mr Brightside heads 2023 Doncaster Mile betting at Ladbrokes.com.au currently paying $5 to do the lucrative interstate mile double.

Perennial Group 1 place-getter Fangirl for Chris Waller presents as a danger again at $8.50 with Brazilian hoop Joao Moreira in the saddle, while the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained cult horse Alligator Blood is out to $12 carrying the 57.5kg top-weight.

So, can Mr Brightside salute for the punters or is an upset Doncaster Mile result pending from the likes of Frankel four-year-old Converge ($8) coming off a third in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes or Waller’s Flight Stakes winning filly Zougotcha ($9) coming off a Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes victory?

Check out our Doncaster Mile 2023 best bets and exotic selections below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to lock in your tips.

• To Win: #2 Mr Brightside ($5 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Hard to tip against the favourite Mr Brightside who was so good last start at The Valley winning the $5 million The All-Star Mile at this distance at WFA. He was fourth in that event last autumn before winning the Doncaster on a light weight. This year he carries more and gives away the kilos to some in-form chances, but 55.5kg is still a winnable weight for a horse of his character. Barrier two and Zac Purton are other pluses in his return to Sydney. Proven at the track he’s at his right distance here and should be able to salute for the punters. He never runs a bad race, was consistent without winning in some of the spring’s biggest events, and looks a huge chance to go back-to-back in the Doncaster for the first time since Sacred Falls.

• The Danger: #20 Lindermann ($16 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Chris Waller has an excellent record in the Doncaster and he has a strong charge again in 2023. One of his forgotten chances in the mix at 15/1 at time of publish is Lindermann. Wide alleys have produced plenty of recent winners and three-year-olds have a top strike-rate in the mile classic. This in-form Lonhro colt is improving each run and looks at peak fitness ready to fire down to just 49kg. Two back he was runner-up at the track and trip in the Randwick Guineas before winning the Rosehill Guineas last time out over 2000m. Back in weight and distance he’s a danger at attractive odds.

• Best Roughie: #6 Going Global ($26 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Sticking with the Waller contingent this international import looks overs at 25/1 for her maiden run down under. The Europeans have been going well in Australia this autumn already and this classy miler has the overseas’ form to to suggest a big run on the Aussie turf. The five-year-old mare has won 10 of her 17 starts and has a near perfect 1600m record (5:4-1-0). She was last seen saluting over the mile in a Group 2 in Europe last October by a tidy margin with 57kg. Fresh with 53.5kg from a good barrier four draw she has the in-form Brenton Avdulla aboard and can surprise a few as a genuine first-up specialist.