Doncaster Prelude

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 Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Rosehill as part of the Tancred Stakes Day card and was won in a strong late charge by the in-form Welwal ($11) from the Price/Kent Jnr stable. 

2026 Doncaster Prelude Results

The official Doncaster Prelude Results 2026 and race finishing order will be published below when the race is run and won on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr’s in-form Shalaa seven-year-old Welwal ($11) proved too strong for his rivals when given a peach of a ride by the flying Zac Lloyd off speed and off the fence to power home by 1.5 lengths in the 2026 Doncaster Prelude results. Still sixth at the top of the home straight, Welwal ran on strongly over the final 300m before hitting the lead and drawing clear for a soft victory – Lloyd’s fourth on the Tancred Stakes Day card. Welwal isn’t currently nominated for the Doncaster Mile with connections now weighing up whether to pay the late entry for him to back-up into the Group 1 at Randwick.

2026 Doncaster Prelude Odds

The Doncaster Prelude 2026 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 followed by the official Doncaster Prelude results after the event.

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).

2026 Doncaster Prelude Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Emancipation Stakes 2026 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.

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: Saturday, March 28, 2026
• 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, while Welwal won in 2026 at a Doncaster Prelude starting price of $11.

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.

2026 Doncaster Prelude Field

The official Doncaster Prelude 2026 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 2026 Doncaster Prelude final field features a capacity line-up of middle-distance types chasing the ballot exemption for next Saturday’s Group 1 with markets led by the Cliff Brown-trained Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke winner Sepals racing second-up off a fourth in the Newmarket Handicap.

Rosehill R9 - Racing And Sports Doncaster Prelude (G3)

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. Sepals J: Tommy Berry T: Cliff Brown	1102x4	G	7	59.5kg
	2. Globe J: Tom Sherry T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr	2421x0	G	10	59kg
	3. Kovalica J: Nash Rawiller T: Chris Waller	54305x	G	3	58kg
	4. Robusto J: Josh Parr T: Bjorn Baker	7320x2	G	8	58kg
	5. Feroce J: Billy Egan T: Dominic Sutton	380x27	G	1	57.5kg
	6. Sandpaper J: Rachel King T: Bjorn Baker	026154	G	9	57kg
	7. Land Legend (17)  Scratched:
	8. Waterford J: James McDonald T: Chris Waller	10060x	G	11	56kg
	9. Welwal J: Zac Lloyd T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr	276x34	G	2	55.5kg
	10. Green Fly (15)  Scratched:
	11. Magnatear (2)  Scratched:
	12. Ducasse J: Regan Bayliss T: Michael Freedman	5358x2	G	6	53.5kg
	13. Enxuto J: Jason Collett T: Robbie Griffiths	24x323	G	5	53.5kg
	14. Lord Penman J: Kerrin Mcevoy T: Chris Waller	720x17	G	4	53.5kg
	15. Cool Jakey (3)  Scratched:
	16. Hellsing (11)  Scratched:
	17. Snow In May (14)  Scratched:

View Results

2026 Doncaster Prelude Nominations

The early Doncaster Prelude 2026 Nominations close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below once released.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	x148x46612	AMREEKIYAH	M	4	Peter Snowden	75
2	2402×51056	COOL JAKEY	G	6	Joseph Pride	94
3	1x5x3413x2	COTE ATLANTIQUE (IRE)	G	5	Henry Dwyer	98
4	40x45358x2	DUCASSE	G	5	Michael Freedman	98
5	37x6497x60	ENCAP	G	5	Gary Portelli	100
6	753424×323	ENXUTO	G	5	Robbie Griffiths	98
7	16x6380x27	FEROCE (NZ)	G	4	Dominic Sutton	106
8	3x0x2421x0	GLOBE (NZ)	G	7	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	110
9	65x313028x	GOLDEN PATH (NZ)	G	6	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	106
10	545468×411	GREEN FLY (GB)	G	7	Anthony & Sam Freedman	99
11	140×072230	HELLSING (IRE)	G	6	Annabel & Rob Archibald	90
12	1x21314x32	JUSTADEEL	G	5	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	92
13	31x054305x	KOVALICA (NZ)	G	6	Chris Waller	107
14	68x395000x	LAND LEGEND (FR)	G	6	Ciaron Maher	104
15	1x27720x17	LORD PENMAN (NZ)	G	4	Chris Waller	98
16	31561×4433	MAGNATEAR	G	6	Richard & Will Freedman	95
17	55x3718x51	MODELLA	M	4	Lee & Cherie Curtis	87
18	77x77320x2	ROBUSTO	G	6	Bjorn Baker	107
19	5×07026154	SANDPAPER	G	6	Bjorn Baker	105
20	114x1102x4	SEPALS	G	4	Cliff Brown	110
21	158x3473x8	SNOW IN MAY	M	4	Tom Charlton	94
22	x481325x51	TUILERIES	M	4	Peter Snowden	104
23	2169×90459	WAR ETERNAL (NZ)	G	7	Bjorn Baker	92
24	64x010060x	WATERFORD (IRE)	G	7	Chris Waller	103
25	0x86276x34	WELWAL (GB)	G	7	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	102
26	216x98x536	WONDER BOY	G	4	Jerome Hunter	86

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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.

2026 Doncaster Prelude Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Doncaster Prelude 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 DONCASTER PRELUDE FORM GUIDE

Past 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.

Recent Doncaster Prelude Winners

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

Year	Winner	Second	Third
2026	Welwal	Feroce	Lord Penman
2025	Just Folk	New Endeavour	Ducasse
2024	Another Wil	Bandersnatch	Welwal
2023	Bandersnatch	Welwal	Diamil
2022	Mr Mozart	Our Playboy	Dajraan
2021	Yao Dash	Mister Sea Wolf	Bottega
2020	Cascadian	Mask Of Time	Gaulois
2019	Mister Sea Wolf	Abdon	Tom Melbourne
2018	Cellarman	Ecuador	Mister Sea Wolf
2017	Spectroscope	No Doubt	Marenostro
2016	Havana Cooler	Cosmic Cube	Rudy
2015	Excess Knowledge	Malice	Leebaz
2014	Weary	Leebaz	I’m Imposing
2013	Skyerush	Alma’s Fury	Illo
2012	Fast Clip	Speediness	Alma’s Fury
2011	My Kingdom of Fife	Hidden Wonder	Bold Glance
2010	Brilliant Light	Gold Water	Snapy Halo
2009	Dao Dao	Musket	Pins On Parade
2008	Valedictum	Master Magic	Theseo
2007	Mr Ubiquitous	Mystery City	A Country Girl
2006	Gorgonite	Mindreader	Legendary Man
2005	Osca Warrior	Fire At Will	Gabfest
2004	Allgunadoit	Cariboo	Jeremiad
2003	Helsinborg	On A High	Palladium Star
2002	Defier	Salgado	Hire
2001	Final Fantasy	Old Man	Spying
2000	Le Zagaletta	Summa Cum Laude	Roulette
1999	Adam	Fraud	Zuccherino
1998	Corporate James	Yacquina Bay	York
1997	Ravarda	Burrito	Here’s The Prince
1996	Buzzoff	Persian Flyer	Pimpala Son
1995	Salivate	Sprint By	My Diamond Rouge
1994	Cobbora	Zinders	Rouslan
1993	Blue Boss	Pharaoh	Highpak
1992	Alderson	Rose Road	Enjoy Dancing
1991	Livistona Lane	Spot The Rock	Prince Trialia
1990	Painted Ocean	Prince Triala	Merimbula Bay
1989	Card Shark	Dancing Poet	Allez Streak
1988	Tumble On	Magic Gleam	Sound Horizon
1987	Eastern Classic	Belliho	My Precocious Lad
1986	Swift Cheval	Eye Of The Sky	Sea Pictures
1985	Bring Home	Row Of Waves	Premier Flight

FAQ

Who won the 2026 Doncaster Prelude?

The 2026 Doncaster Prelude was won by seven-year-old Shalaa gelding Welwal at $11 for trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr with jockey Zac Lloyd aboard on 55.5kg from barrier 2 to win by 1.5 lengths on a Soft (7) track in a time of 1:30.19.

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 2026?

Saturday, March 28, 2026

What is the prize money for the Doncaster Prelude 2026?

$250,000

Where is the Doncaster Prelude 2026?

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

How do I bet on the 2026 Doncaster Prelude?

Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.

Which horse will win the 2026 Doncaster Prelude?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Doncaster Prelude is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.