Doncaster Handicap

Winners and Past Results for the Doncaster Handicap.

One of the premier races hosted by the Australian Turf Club during the Sydney autumn racing carnival in April is the Doncaster Handicap.

Also known as the Doncaster Mile, the 1600 metre event is a Group 1 open race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

3 million dollars are at stake in the race which attracts the strongest milers from across the nation. Other Group 1 races scheduled on the same day include the TJ Smith Stakes and the Australian Derby.

Top quality gallopers usually make their way to the Doncaster Handicap after a handy run in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes held earlier at the Rosehill track. Racing To Win and Haradasun won the Ryder Stakes/Doncaster Handicap double in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Vision and Power also wrapped up both titles in 2009. Runner up in 2003, Grand Armee came into the event after scoring victory in the Ryder Stakes. In 2011, Love Conquers All was runner up in both races, proving its worth as a betting double.

The Doncaster Handicap is considered the autumn equivalent of the Group 1 Epsom Handicap held in spring. Interestingly, the race have favoured four year olds over the years in both events. Racing To Win was the last miler to win both the Epsom Handicap and Doncaster Handicap in 2006.

Some of the best horses have etched their name on the Doncaster Handicap since 1889. This includes Mildura, Blue Legend, Tudor Hill, Find And Dandy, Gunsynd, Super Impose, Pharaoh, Sunline, and Assertive Lad. Super Impose is the only horse to manage an Epsom Handicap/Doncaster Handicap double twice in 1990-91.

The Doncaster Handicap is amongst the prestigious races held during the autumn racing carnival which also includes Sydney Cup, Rosehill Guineas, and Golden Slipper Stakes.

The late TJ Smith trained seven winners and remains the most successful trainer followed closely by his daughter Gai Waterhouse.

Trainers Joe Pride and Chris Waller have saddled two winners each. Over the past two decades only five favourites have obliged punters which include Sunline, Racing To Win, and Haradsun among others. In 2011, Sacred Choice placed third in the 1600 meters Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes and fifth in the 2000 meter Group 1 Ranvet Stakes prior to winning the Doncaster Handicap.