| 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
3
TOM KITTEN
22
SWIFTFALCON
10
MOIRA
19
FIRESTORM
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $50 Win | Tom Kitten (#3) @ +600 with |
| $30 Win | Swiftfalcon (#22) @ +800 with |
| $20 Win | Moira (#10) @ +1400 with |
Doncaster Mile 2025 final field
1. Another Wil (18)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Ms Jamie Melham
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Street Boss (USA)
- Dam: Arohanui
+175
2. Gringotts (6)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 55.5kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Per Incanto (USA)
- Dam: Miss Bluebell (NZ)
+175
3. Tom Kitten (1)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Ben Melham
- W: 55.5kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam: Transfers
+125
4. Geoglyph (24)
- T: Tetsuya Kimura
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 55kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Drefong (USA)
- Dam: Aromatico (JPN)
+500
5. Pericles (16)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 55kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Street Boss (USA)
- Dam: Accessories (GB)
+1250
6. Militarize (7)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Chad Schofield
- W: 55kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
- Dam: Amerindia (GB)
+1250
7. Royal Patronage (19)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Tim Clark
- W: 54.5kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB)
- Dam: Shaloushka (IRE)
+350
8. Stefi Magnetica (5)
- T: Bjorn Baker
- J: Jason Collett
- W: 54.5kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: All Too Hard
- Dam: Mid Summer Music
+400
9. Anisette (20)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Michael Dee
- W: 54kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Awtaad (IRE)
- Dam: Tutti Frutti (GB)
+1250
10. Moira (21)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Zac Purton
- W: 54kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Ghostzapper (USA)
- Dam: Devine Aida (USA)
+350
11. Just Folk (10)
- T: Gavin Bedggood
- J:
- W: 54.5kg
- Age: 8YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Magnus
- Dam: Fast Ruby
+625
12. Celestial Legend (11)
- T: Les Bridge
- J: Regan Bayliss
- W: 54kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Grey-Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
- Dam: Sarraqa
+1250
13. Kovalica (17)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Kerrin McEvoy
- W: 53.5kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Ocean Park (NZ)
- Dam: Vitesse (NZ)
+625
14. Port Lockroy (13)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 53.5kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Better Than Ready
- Dam: Freezethemillions
+625
15. Al Mubhir (4)
- T: William Haggas
- J: Andrea Atzeni
- W: 53kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Frankel (GB)
- Dam: Muffri’ha (IRE)
+500
16. New Energy (22)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Dylan Gibbons
- W: 52.5kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: New Bay (GB)
- Dam: For Joy (GB)
+2500
17. Iowna Merc (15)
- T: Bjorn Baker
- J: Ashley Morgan
- W: 52kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Winning Rupert
- Dam: Mercedes
+1250
18. Encap (3)
- T: Gary Portelli
- J: Reece Jones
- W: 51kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Capitalist
- Dam: Enquare
+625
19. Firestorm (8)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Jay Ford
- W: 50kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Satono Aladdin (JPN)
- Dam: Dancing Embers (NZ)
+300
20. Linebacker (14)
- T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- J: Zac Lloyd
- W: 49kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Super Seth
- Dam: Garden of Swans (GB)
+125
21. Rise At Dawn (2)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Karis Teetan
- W: 51kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Almanzor (FR)
- Dam: Kay’s Awake (NZ)
+1250
22. Swiftfalcon (12)
- T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
- J: Tyler Schiller
- W: 49kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Exceedance
- Dam: Tempting Delight
+200
23. Sandpaper (23)
- T: Bjorn Baker
- J: —
- W: 50kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Snitzel
- Dam: Smooth
+2500
24. Ducasse (9)
- T: Michael Freedman
- J: —
- W: 50kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Trapeze Artist
- Dam: Custard
+1250
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