Winx Form Offers Doncaster Chances

[Chief Stipe]

Even though she’s not even contesting the 2018 G1 Doncaster Mile, the formlines around Winx (Aus} (Street Cry {Ire}) are still the measuring stick and come Saturday they will surely come into play. Finishing second and third, respectively, to Winx in the G1 George Ryder S. (1500m) on Mar. 24, Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Kementari (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) appear on paper to be the stand out selections.

Second on two occasions in the race, Happy Clapper has returned this time in with a slashing first-up win in the G1 Canterbury S., before his three-quarter length second to Winx, clearly highlighting his class, while Kementari was unbeaten in his first three this campaign highlighted by his stunning G1 Randwick Guineas victory over the same track and trip as the Doncaster before his third to Winx. The telling factor appears the weights–Happy Clapper will carry 57kg, while Kementari has just 51.5kg on his back, a significant advantage which sees a leaning to Godolphin’s quality 3-year-old.

Another who can lay claims to finishing extremely close to Winx in a race is the Darren Weir-trained Group 1 winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}), a narrow second to the great mare in the Cox Plate. Third-up last time in he captured the G1 Makybe Diva S. over 1600m, and with four wins from six starts at the trip, the 5-year-old will get every chance.

Dropping back from his impressive win in the G1 Rosehill Guineas last start, the Star Thoroughbreds-raced D’Argento (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) is using a tried and tested formula for trainer Chris Waller of dropping back in trip for the Doncaster, having most recently proved successful with 3-year-old Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) in his first of two wins in the race.

Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas (Ire}), a stablemate of D’Argento is well-known for his ability to always find someone better, and with only 52 kilos on his back, the lightest weight he has carried in some time, as well as a new jockey in Kerrin McEvoy set to partner the 7-year-old, we could only assume that he should be right in the money once again.

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