With the decision to withdraw Chautauqua, the original top weight, the Doncaster weights are expected to be raised by 1kg to meet the minimum 57kg topweight requirement for the race.
Hauraki will lead a strong Godolphin team into the Doncaster with trainer John O’Shea also planning to start It's Somewhat and the impressive import Spectroscope.
The rise in weights will be a blessing for Tommy Berry as it will enable him to ride Antonio Giuseppe for Chris Waller in the Doncaster. Antonio Guisseppe will carry 52kg with the expected 1kg rise in the handicaps.
Waller has also booked Kerrin McEvoy to ride McCreery and Brenton Avdulla for Endless Drama in the Doncaster.McEvoy’s other rides on the first day of The Championships include Galaxy winner Russian Revolution in the $2 million TJ Smith Stakes, Victorian three-year-old So Si Bon in the $2 million ATC Derby and Tulip in the $1 million ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
Blake Shinn will be sticking with impressive Newcastle Newmarket winner Happy Clapper in the Doncaster Mile. He also rides English in the TJ Smith and Gunnison in the Sires Produce.Ecuador will be the only Doncaster runner from the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable with Adam Hyeronimus as his rider. Waterhouse is seeking a record eighth win in the Doncaster.
Darren Weir has confirmed Doncaster starts for Palentino (Mark Zahra) and Tosen Stardom (Damian Lane) while the Lindsay Park stable will be represented by impressive Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior (Regan Bayliss) and Dibayani (Damien Oliver).
Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc (Tim Clark) will travel to Sydney from Melbourne on Wednesday night and may be joined by another Victorian three-year-old I Am A Star in the Doncaster.I Am A Star won the G2 Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley last Friday night and trainer Shane Nichols intends to declare the filly an acceptor on Tuesday. He will then monitor the weather in Sydney in the hope a reasonable week will help the Randwick track improve.
