Doncaster Mile 2024

Ladbrokes Tip: The George Ryder Stakes is the best lead-up form going into the Doncaster Mile.

The Doncaster Mile is one of the premier Group 1 races held on Day 1 of The Championships on the first Saturday in April during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

2022 Doncaster Mile winner Mr Brightside. Photo: Steve Hart.

Held at Royal Randwick Racecourse it is one of four elite level features on Doncaster Mile Day.

It is supported by the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m), and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Offering a lucrative $4 million in total prize money the event is contested over 1600m under handicap conditions and is open to horses aged three-years-old and over.

The prizemoney for the 2020 edition of the Doncaster Mile was cut to $1.5 million including $870,000 to the winner with Racing NSW making cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before being reinstated at $3 million for 2021 and boosted to $4 million ahead of the 2023 edition.

Each year the winners of the Flight Stakes, $2 million The Ingham Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes, Randwick Guineas, Canterbury Stakes, Coolmore Classic, and George Ryder Stakes are exempt from Doncaster Mile ballot.

Of those the traditional lead-up is the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) held at Rosehill a fortnight before. The George Ryder Stakes – Doncaster Mile is a popular betting double and the latest horses to enjoy wins in both races during the same season are Vision And Power (2009) and Winx (2016).

The George Ryder Stakes has produced 15 of the past 30 Doncaster Mile winners as of 2024 (inclusive).

Non-Group 1 races offering a Doncaster Mile ballot and penalty exemption are the Ajax Stakes and Doncaster Prelude. Horses coming out of the Doncaster Mile can back-up on the seven day turnaround into one of the autumn’s richest race – the  Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes the following Saturday.

In 2023 Mr Brightside went back-to-back in the Doncaster Mile successfully defending his title on the back of a lead-up Melbourne win at The Valley in the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m).

The latest edition of the Doncaster Mile took place on Saturday April 6, 2024 at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships and was won in a brilliant fast-finishing performance by Les Bridge’s class three-year-old Celestial Legend ($6.50).

2024 Doncaster Mile Results

The full 2024 Doncaster Mile results and finishing order will be published below once the classic is run and won on Saturday April 6, 2024.

2024 Doncaster Mile winner Celestial Legend was outstanding the closing stages to salute in another Group 1 Randwick mile feature. Photo: Steve Hart.

• 1st: #19 Celestial Legend
• 2nd: #3 Pericles
• 3rd: #4 Militarize

Les Bridge celebrated his second Doncaster victory 39 years on from his first with his Randwick Guineas winning colt, Celestial Legend ($6.50), coming from nowhere the closing stages to blitz his rivals out wide in the 2024 Doncaster Mile results.

2024 Doncaster Mile Odds

Our early, all-in Doncaster Mile betting odds and futures prices on the hopeful milers heading towards the April classic are listed below.

Doncaster Mile Race Info

• Date: Saturday April 6, 2024
• Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
• Distance: 1600m
• Conditions: Open Handicap
• Status: Group 1
• Prize Money: $4 million
• First Run: 1866

2024 DONCASTER MILE PREVIEW

2024 DONCASTER MILE ODDS

Doncaster Mile Betting

Doncaster Mile betting markets are led by horses with proven Sydney form over the distance that ran well last time out in Group 1 company.

From 2004 – 2024 just three Doncaster Mile winners didn’t run in Group 1 company last start when Triple Honour (2008)  improved on a Group 2 Hobartville Stakes sixth to win, It’s Somewhat (2017) came off a Group 2 Ajax Stakes victory, Mr Brightside (2022) won off a lead-up fourth in Melbourne’s The All-Star Mile, and then Mr Brightside again in 2023 who won the All-Star Mile – Doncaster Mile interstate double.

Because of the handicap conditions of the race three-year-olds have a strong record and often feature strongly in the Doncaster Mile odds. From 2006 – 2024 six three-year-olds won the Doncaster Mile including Kermadec (2015), Brutal (2019), and Celestial Legend (2024) with plenty more running in the trifecta.

Chris Waller-trained horses are always popular in Doncaster Mile betting as the Sydney horseman prepared six of the 16 winners from 2008 – 2024 including four straight thanks to a double by Sacred Falls (2013-14) followed by Kermadec (2015) and Winx (2016).

There have been plenty of recent upsets in Doncaster Mile betting with with seven winners from 1990 – 2021 starting at $21 or longer, while in 2022 Mr Brightside won at $21.

Mr Brightside returned for a successful title defence in 2023 as the $6 favourite in Doncaster Mile betting.

Doncaster Mile Field

The Doncaster Mile race field has a field limit of 20 starters and was recently run at capacity in 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

It ran one under capacity with 19 starters in 2024 with a host of scratchings due to the Heavy-rated track.

Winx (2016) was the last horse to complete the George Ryder Stakes – Doncaster Mile double. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.

Gallopers come into the Doncaster Mile via a number of different autumn lead-ups but the most popular is the George Ryder Stakes run over just 100m shorter two weeks earlier at Rosehill.

The George Ryder Stakes produced 10 of the Doncaster Mile winners from 2004 – 2024 including the star mare Winx (2016) who won the double. Cascadian (4th in 2021) was the last Doncaster Mile winner to improve off a George Ryder Stakes performance.

The other race producing many runners in the Doncaster Mile field is the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on Golden Slipper Day, horses dropping back in distance for the lucrative Randwick feature. Nettoyer (4th in 2020) was the last Doncaster Mile winner to improve off a Ranvet Stakes run.

Earlier, the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on Chipping Norton Stakes Day can make a nice campaign starting point for Doncaster Mile hopefuls.

Notably, from 2000 – 2024 all but three of the 24 Doncaster Mile winners had their final lead-up run at Rosehill Gardens.

In 2024 Celestial Legend won the Doncaster Mile on the back of a lead-up Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) victory at the same track and trip.

Doncaster Mile nominations close in early to mid-February followed by first acceptances at the start of March. The final field of Doncaster Mile acceptances and barrier draw are released on the Tuesday before the race.

2024 Doncaster Mile Field

The official Doncaster Mile 2024 final field of acceptances is due for release on the Tuesday leading-up to Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ and will be available below.

The 2024 Doncaster Mile field of final acceptances will be confirmed on Tuesday the 2nd of April, 2024.  

The Doncaster Mile 2024 field features a full line-up of middle-distance gallopers including the Prelude champion Another Wil up in grade, in-form Dundeel colt Celestial Legend coming off a Randwick Guineas victory at the track and trip, and Japanese raider Obamburumai who won last year’s $10 million Golden Eagle down under.

Doncaster Mile Scratchings 2024:

• #5 Zougotcha (19)
• #6 Golden Mile (1)
• #11 Attractable (5)
• #17 Semana (17)
• #20 Southport Tycoon (20) 

2024 Doncaster Mile Nominations

Early nominations on the Doncaster Mile 2024 close at midday on Tuesday the 13th of February, 2024.

The Doncaster Mile 2024 nominations attracted a bumper 185 hopeful middle distance stars including Chris Waller’s King Charles III Stakes winning mare Fangirl, Joe Pride’s reigning $20 million The Everest hero Think About It, and the ultra-consistent Ciaron Maher-trained Per Incanto four-year-old Jimmysstar ready to step up in grade.

2024 Doncaster Mile First Acceptances

The Doncaster Mile 2024 first acceptances close on Tuesday the 12th of March , 2024 reducing the list of potential runners.

Reigning The Everest champ Think About It heads updated all-in markets on the 93 first acceptances taken for the Doncaster Mile 2024.

Doncaster Mile Tips

Doncaster Mile tips favour proven milers with good autumn form throughout the carnival.

All 22 Doncaster Mile winners from 2000 – 2021 had their final lead-up at Rosehill Gardens so watching for gallopers that ran well in races including the George Ryder Stakes is always a good tip.

In 2022 Mr Brightside broke that trend coming off a fourth in The All-Star Mile at Flemington before returning in 2023 to win Melbourne’s All-Star Mile at The Valley and then go back-to-back in the Doncaster Mile results.

From 2004 – 2024 six favourites saluted for the punters with the latest being Winx (4/5 in 2016) followed by Mr Brightside ($6 in 2023).

Three-year-olds have a good record and are feature in Doncaster Mile tips along with Chris Waller-trained runners and well-weighted chances with just three horses carrying more than 55.5kg to victory in the race since 2003, Happy Clapper (57kg in 2018) the most recent.

Mares have a credible record in the Doncaster Mile results with 34 fillies and mares winning up until 2022.

Nettoyer (2020) is the last Doncaster Mile winning mare, while Sunline (1999) is the last filly to win the event.

2024 Doncaster Mile Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Doncaster Mile 2024 betting tips on the Group 1 1600m classic will be detailed below with the milers to back and sack this autumn so stay tuned.

• To Win: #12 Lady Laguna ($9.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Great price on offer for the ultra-consistent Lady Laguna who is the market mover but still value. The Annabel Neasham-trained Overshare mare is yet to win over further than 1300m, but her 51kg lightweight puts her right in the mix to run out the mile. She’s proven at the Randwick track (7:1-2-4) and just doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Magic Millions Fillies & Mares winner at the Gold Coast in January, with that meeting’s form holding so strong this autumn. Group 1 victory two back in the Canterbury Stakes here defeating Think About It by 1.25 lengths with 57kg. George Ryder second over 1500m last start at Rosehill a nose beaten. Michael Dee comes aboard, winnable gate, great weight, top chance.

Doncaster Mile Form Guide

The Doncaster Mile form guide shows punters the barriers, jockeys, trainers, weights and lead-up runs of the horses in the field. Looking for Rosehill graduates that come out of autumn Group 1 races is important when doing the Doncaster Mile form.

The Doncaster Mile barrier draw hasn’t been of huge significance in the race with an even spread of winners from across all of the gates, but the most successful since 1983 producing five winners is barrier 12.

The most successful Doncaster Mile jockey with six wins since 1996 including Kermadec (2015) is Glen Boss who also rode three winners on the trot from 2006 – 2008.

The Doncaster Mile winner Mr Brightside franked the form going on to complete the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes – Feehan Stakes double in Melbourne that spring. Mr Brightside also finished third in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The 2022 Doncaster Mile form was further franked with the second place-getter I’m Thunderstruck finishing runner-up in a host of subsequent Group 1 races including the Cox Plate and win the Makybe Diva Stakes that spring.

Icebath meanwhile finished third in the Doncaster Mile results (after a 2nd the following year) and after a number of other Group 1 placings, she won that year’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) in Victoria.

The 2023 Doncaster form was franked again by Mr Brightside that spring with the champion galloper taking out the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes double in Melbourne. He also finished second in the King Charles III Stakes in Sydney, the Cox Plate at The Valley, and the Champions Mile over the Cup Carnival.

Doncaster Mile Form Facts

• Four favourites in Doncaster Mile betting from 2007 – 2024 saluted for the punters including two mares More Joyous (2012) and Winx (2016), followed by Mr Brightside for his second success in 2023.
• Chris Waller has dominated the Doncaster Mile results in the past decade producing all four winners from 2013 – 2016.
• Eight of the 13 Doncaster Mile winners from 2009 – 2020 jumped from barrier 10 or wider including Brutal (18 of 20 in 2019).
• A Group 1 run at Rosehill Gardens in either the Ranvet Stakes or George Ryder Stakes is the key Doncaster Mile form line to follow into the race.
• Three-year-olds have won the Doncaster Mile 33 times with Celestial Legend (2024) the most recent.
• In the past 35 years up until 2025 double-digit Doncaster Mile barriers have produced 20 winners most recently Mr Brightside in 2022. Mr Brightside returned and won the Doncaster Mile again in 2023 from barrier two.

2024 Doncaster Mile Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Doncaster Mile Handicap 2024 Form Guide will be provided by punters the week of the race.

Doncaster Mile Records

Below we take a look at some of the Doncaster Mile race records like who is the most successful Doncaster Mile jockey and what horse has run the fastest time in the Doncaster Mile?

Doncaster Mile Race Record: Belmura Lad (1979) with a time of 1:33.70 previous held the Doncaster Mile record before popular galloper Happy Clapper set the new record of 1.33.17 with his 2018 victory.

Doncaster Mile Jockey Record: Jockey Glen Boss has ridden the most Doncaster Mile winners with seven victories. His first was aboard Sprint By (1996) and his most recent was on Brutal (2019).

Doncaster Mile Trainer Record: In a nice piece of Doncaster Mile history, the late Tommy Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse co-share the Doncaster Mile training record with seven victories each. Trainer Chris Waller is fast approaching that number sitting at six Doncaster Mile victories up until 2021.

Doncaster Mile Results

The Doncaster Mile race results and finishing order are known on Day 1 of The Championships on the first Saturday in April each autumn. Single-figure hopes have dominated the Doncaster Mile results in the past two decades.

The longest priced winners in recent years though have been Mr Brightside ($20 in 2022), Nettoyer ($41 in 2020), It’s Somewhat ($34 in 2017), Sacred Falls ($21 in 2013) for her first of two victories, and Patezza ($21 in 2005).

Other notable Doncaster Mile winners in that time include Winx (2016), More Joyous (2012), Rangirangdoo (2010), and Racing To Win (2006).

Mr Brightside (2022, 2023) is the latest two-time Doncaster Mile champion.

Past Doncaster Mile Winners

A list of recent Doncaster Mile winners and place-getters going back to the year 2000 are detailed in the table below.