Doncaster Mile 2025 Group 1 preview & betting strategy | April 5

Wandering Eyes · 2025-04-02T02:03:29Z

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What	2025 Doncaster Mile
Where	Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, NSW
When	Saturday, April 5, 2025
Prizemoney	$4,000,000
Distance	1600m
Conditions	Group 1, Handicap
2024 winner	Celestial Legend (4) \| T: Les Bridge \| J: Tyler Schiller (49kg)
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The time-honoured Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) headlines the action for Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a capacity field of 20 set to line-up in one of Australia’s iconic 1600m handicaps.

Three-year-olds have a terrific record in the $4 million feature, with Celestial Legend (2024) and Brutal (2019) claiming the event in recent years, and it appears to be a similar story heading into this year’s edition as Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Linebacker looks poised to start favourite on Saturday.

He gets in on the minimum 49kg taking on the older horses for the first time. Will it be enough to claim back-to-back wins? Or is there an upset brewing in the 2025 Doncaster Mile?

2025 Doncaster Mile odds

Linebacker holds the call at $6 with in what shapes up to be a wide-open edition of the Doncaster Mile.

Horse racing bookmakers are allowing punters to decide the flow of the market, with Gringotts and Tom Kitten sharing the second line of betting at $7 apiece with .

Another Wil ($8) makes the trip north to Sydney and is rock solid in betting, while Swiftfalcon is the big firmer, going from $11 into $9 with ; however, he requires two scratchings to gain entry in the final field.

The Chris Waller-trained Firestorm ($10) heads the chances at double-figure odds, while the likes of Moira ($15) and Royal Patronage ($15) are yet to budge in the market.

2025 Doncaster Mile speed map

There should be a genuine tempo in this year’s edition of the Doncaster Mile, with Royal Patronage likely to storm across to the top from barrier 19.

Rise At Dawn (2) appears the other likely leader, however, he needs one scratching to make the final field as Karis Teetan makes the trip over from Hong Kong.

Just Folk made every post a winner in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude on Tuesday, and you’d imagine similar tactics would be employed from gate 10.

Gringotts (6) was handy when winning the Group 1 George Ryder (1500m) and maps to slot into the one-one under Tommy Berry, while Tom Kitten (1), Stefi Magnetica (5) and Encap (3) appear likely to sit in the top-half of the field.

Meanwhile, the map doesn’t look kind for the likes of Another Wil (18), Moira (21) and Geoglyph (24), with the trio likely to go back in search of cover from their respective draws.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Doncaster Mile.

Doncaster Mile 2025 preview & form

In a race littered with chances, it’s worth splitting your stake in the 2025 Doncaster Mile; however, it’s the Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m) winner Tom Kitten that gets the verdict.

It’s a proven recipe for success, with two-time Doncaster winner Mr Brightside doing the double in 2023. His run in an on-speed dominated edition of the George Ryder Stakes should have him set to peak fourth-up into the preparation, and although Ben Melham will need to get off the rail at a crucial stage after drawing barrier one, the $7 about Tom Kitten is a fair price provided the breaks fall his way.

Swiftfalcon was every bit as good as Linebacker in the Randwick Guineas and showed plenty of toughness stepping out to the 2000m in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas. The mile appears to be his best trip, and with just 49kg on his back, Swiftfalcon must be considered a major player provided he gets a start.

Moira is clearly the best of the internationals lining up on Saturday. She did it tough three-wide no cover when claiming the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf (2213m) before her arrival, and with star hoop Zac Purton in the saddle, she’s the one at the wrong price provided she can overcome the awkward draw (21).

Replace the stake on Swiftfalcon with Firestorm if he doesn’t make the field. She’s flying heading into this third-up after savaging the line behind Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m), and is a must include in all exotics regardless.

Doncaster Mile 2025 selections & best bets

Selections: