Doncaster Prelude 2025

Ladbrokes Tip: The Doncaster Prelude winner is exempt from ballot in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m)

The latest edition of the Doncaster Prelude ran on Tuesday April 1, 2025 at Rosehill as part of the Tancred Stakes Day card after being postponed due to heavy rainfall in Sydney on Saturday and was won in impressive all-the-way fashion by eight-year-old Just Folk ($14). 

2025 Doncaster Prelude Results

The official Doncaster Prelude Results 2025 and race finishing order will be published below when the race is run and won on Tuesday April 1, 2025 .

2025 Doncaster Prelude winner Just Folk. Photo: Bradley Photos.

• 1st: #1 Just Folk
• 2nd: #6 New Endeavour
• 3rd: #10 Ducasse

A super quick back-up into Saturday’s $4 million Doncaster Mile is on the cards for Gavin Bedggood’s evergreen eight-year-old Just Folk ($14) with the gutsy galloper leading all-the-way to salute by 1.22 lengths in the Doncaster Prelude 2025 results on Tuesday in an impressive upset.

2025 Doncaster Prelude Odds

The Doncaster Prelude 2025 betting odds will be available below the week of the race giving you access to the best autumn racing odds ahead of the Group 3 on Tancred Stakes Day at Rosehill.

The Doncaster Prelude is a Group 3 middle-distance race run and won over 1500m at Rosehill Gardens on Tancred Stakes Day in late March during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Offering $250,000 in prize money, the quality handicap clash also has a ballot exemption on offer to the winner into the Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ in early April.

To date no horse has completed the double in a single season however the 2020 Doncaster Prelude winner Cascadian returned the following autumn to reign supreme for Godolphin in the Doncaster Mile 2021 results.

First contested in 1985 the event is officially registered as the Royal Parma Stakes in honour of the 1968 Golden Slipper winner Royal Parma.

Originally run on Golden Slipper Day and subsequently renamed the Doncaster Prelude in 2010, the event has held Group 3 status since 2011.

Doncaster Prelude Race Info

• Date: Tuesday April 1, 2025
• Track: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
• Distance: 1500m
• Conditions: Quality Handicap – 3YOs & Upwards
• Status: Group 3
• Prize Money: $250,000
• First Run: 1985

Doncaster Prelude Betting

Early Doncaster Prelude odds are out at bookmakers after nominations are taken the Monday of race week and firm after the final field is announced two days later.

Doncaster Prelude betting is led by in-form local Sydney-trained gallopers with form around a mile. Any Chris Waller-trained middle-distance types are often favoured in the markets as he has prepared five winners since 2006.

There has been plenty of value in Doncaster Prelude betting over the years including in 2011 when UK import My Kingdom Of Fife won at $151 when debuting down under for Waller.

Yao Dash ($3.90 in 2021), Mr Mozart ($3.50 in 2022), and Another Wil ($1.75 in 2024) are the last favourites in Doncaster Prelude betting to salute for the punters.

There was a notable upset in 2025 with Just Folk leading all-the-way to win at Doncaster Prelude odds of $14.

Doncaster Prelude Field

The Doncaster Prelude race field attracts a class line-up of in-form mile types and runners coming off earlier Sydney runs over the autumn.

The bulk of the runners in the Doncaster Prelude field are vying for the ballot exemption into the following Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) that now offers $4 million in prize money.

Later in the winter, Doncaster Prelude graduates may head to Brisbane and target an elite level race like the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May.

The Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill a fortnight earlier makes a nice potential lead-up into the Doncaster Prelude field. Brilliant Light (2010) was the last runner to complete the Ajax Stakes – Doncaster Prelude double.

In 2023 Bandersnatch improved on a lead-up fourth in the Ajax Stakes to win the Doncaster Prelude.

Bandersnatch returned to run second in the Doncaster Prelude 2024 results.

Doncaster Prelude nominations close the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday.

2025 Doncaster Prelude Field

The official Doncaster Prelude 2025 Field & Barriers will be released by Racing NSW the Wednesday before the race and published in full below so stay tuned to see who is in and out of the Tancred Stakes Day event.

The 2025 Doncaster Prelude final field features a capacity line-up of middle-distance types chasing a run in the Group 1 Saturday week led in betting by last start Group 2 Ajax runner-up Willaidow.

2025 Doncaster Prelude Nominations

The early Doncaster Prelude 2025 Nominations close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below once released.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Doncaster Prelude Tips

Doncaster Prelude tips include looking for proven Group-class middle-distance performers with good records over a similar distance with form in Sydney against similar company.

Chris Waller-trained runners make a nice bet in the Doncaster Prelude, as do any in-form runners ridden by James McDonald with the hoop boasting three wins in the race since 2015.

It is also worth noting when doing the Doncaster Prelude tipping that since Fast Clip (10 in 2012) the only other Doncaster Prelude winners to salute from a double-digit barrier are Cascadian (13 in 2020), Mr Mozart (10 in 2022), and Just Folk (11 in 2025).

2025 Doncaster Prelude Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Emancipation Stakes 2025 betting tips and race selections will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the gallopers to back and sack in the Doncaster Mile lead-up race.

• To Win: #4 Willaidow ($5 at time of publish) – BET NOW

A few close together at the top of the markets here but sticking with the current favourite at time of publish, WILLAIDOW (13), who has a wide alley to overcome but the class and hoop to do so. Marc Conners’ six-year-old has James McDonald aboard with the galloper looking to continue his ace Rosehill strike-rate (7:3-2-0). Loves this track and was a first-up Group 3 winner here back in early February. Fourth up now and looking to go one better than his close second to Iowna Merc in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes at the track and trip a fortnight ago when run down late after going to the front early. Goes up in the weights from 54kg to 57kg but has been going well and handles the give in the track so should get conditions to suit. Do or die. Think he’ll do.

Doncaster Prelude Form Guide

The Doncaster Prelude form guide details must know facts for punters including the trainers, jockeys, barriers and lead-up form of all the runners in the race.

The form out of the Doncaster Prelude has stacked up in tougher grade races plenty of times in recent years including in 2014 when the winner Weary went on to run third in that year’s Doncaster Mile trifecta. Weary would also place second later in the autumn in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

The 2024 Doncaster Prelude winner Another Wil franked the form with a second in that spring’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before a 2025 autumn return to win the Group 1 CF Orr and place fourth in the All-Star Mile.

2025 Doncaster Prelude Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Doncaster Prelude 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Doncaster Prelude Results

The Doncaster Prelude race results have been dominated by local Sydney gallopers targeting the upcoming Group 1 Doncaster Mile Handicap.

Notable recent Doncaster Prelude winners include Dao Dao (2009),  My Kingdom Of Fife (2011), Weary (2014), and Cascadian (2020).

Skyerush (2013) was the last Doncaster Prelude winning mare.

Mr Mozart (2022) was the last three-year-old Doncaster Prelude winner.

Past Doncaster Prelude Winners

Recent Doncaster Prelude winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1985 are detailed in the below table.

FAQ

Who won the 2025 Doncaster Prelude?

The 2025 Doncaster Prelude was won by eight-year-old Magnus gelding Just Folk at $14 for trainer Gavin Bedggood with jockey Tommy Berry aboard on 59kg from barrier 11 to win by 1.22 lengths in a time of 1:30.39.

When is the Doncaster Prelude 2025?

What is the prize money for the Doncaster Prelude 2025?

$250,000

Where is the Doncaster Prelude 2025?

Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142.