Doncaster Handicap (G1) - Randwick 17th April

[Macca_]

Just go with Apache so you can celebrate with me

 

[chili pepper]

Mnemosyne is a class above these, several classes above most of the field.

She'll win if King gives her a decent ride.

Lad of the Manor is a class act and finished off in style last start after looking gooone at the 300m.


Apache Cat, Racing to Win, Johanns Toy & Ikes Dream to fight it out for third

 

[Macca_]

From Racenet -

Doncaster Handicap preview
Monday will see the running of the time honoured $2 million G1 AJC Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and to preview one of the great races on the Australian turf racing calendar we have compiled the thoughts of a few experts to give you a leg up.
Racenet’s own, Paul Joice is tipping Racing To Win to beat Mnemosyne and Desert War.
”I am very keen on Racing To Win at what I believe is a very genourous quote of 9/1,” Joice said.
”His overall record is outstanding with five wins and three seconds from his eight starts and comes into this off a weight-for-age Group One victory against a crack field in the George Ryder and here he is in the Doncaster with 51kg.
”If there is a query it is the gate [14] and maybe a question mark about him running a strong mile but that’s why he’s 9/1.
”The obvious danger is the filly, Mnemosyne – she’s flying and a Group One winner over a mile while Desert War has an outstanding record over the Randwick mile and will be a tough nut to crack.”
Dennis Simpson from Bet-Busters is tipping Mnemosyne to beat Desert War and Spirit Of Tara.
”I think the filly, Mnemosyne is near enough a good thing,” Simpson said.
”Her preparation has been timed to the minute and her effort to win the Queen Of The Turf was nothing short of top draw.
”Top class, no weight, in form, she’s the one.
”Hardest to beat will be the Randwick mile specialist, Desert War and throw Spirit Of Tara into your multiples, he’ll give you a great sight at odds.”
Randwick clocker and Racing To The Max personality, Craig Tompson is tipping Desert War to beat Racing To Win and Johan’s Toy.
”This race is always tough but I’m going to stick with the proven commodity here in Desert War,” said Tompson.
”He’s never looked better and love the mile on his home track and yet again he’ll be good value.
”Hardest to beat will be the three-year-old, Racing To Win who has the weight-for-age form which usually the best form and he looks ideally placed for a horse that is still yet to peak.
”And don’t leave out Johan’s Toy who must have some good luck just waiting around the corner.”
Last and probably least but for what it’s worth I’m tipping Utzon to beat Racing To Win and Apache Cat.
Les Bridge knows what it takes to win a big race and Utzon has been ticking over perfectly heading into Monday’s big race.
He ran fourth in the race last year and and only has 51kg to carry meaning he will meet the favourite Malcolm 4.5kg better here for his last start defeat by the Hawkes-trained galloper.
Racing To win scares me to death after his stunning win in the George Ryder but his barrier stopped me from putting him on top.
Don’t discount Apache Cat, who is a super fighter and if the rain hangs around he’ll be close to favouritsm come Monday.
Regarding Mnemosyne – can she give two Group One winning "colts" (Apache Cat and Racing To Win) weight and a beating? I’m not going to take $6 to find out when the boys are a better price.
As the saying goes a good colt will beat a good filly and they are both good colts.

 

[OVP]

From Racenet -

Doncaster Handicap preview
Monday will see the running of the time honoured $2 million G1 AJC Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and to preview one of the great races on the Australian turf racing calendar we have compiled the thoughts of a few experts to give you a leg up.
Racenet’s own, Paul Joice is tipping Racing To Win to beat Mnemosyne and Desert War.

Honestly, i know i said Malcolm would probably beat Mnemosyne because of the Beadman factor (and i STILL say Mnemosyne would have SMASHED the field with Beadman on her) but really now that the days have gone by, and ive looked harder into the race ... Racing to win is definitely the one to beat. With Beadman, im confident Mnemosyne would have shat it in, but its amazing what .5kgs can do :roll:. Mnemosyne is my favourite horse of all, but she'll need to be at her best to beat Racing to win, and without Beadman im not that confident

 

[Macca_]

Yeah, I've put Racing to Win in for 2nd. Wasn't much between him and Apache Cat when they met at Rosehill. Both drop from 56.5kgs to 51kgs. I just feel that if Apache can get across easily enough and get to the lead without much pressure on, he'll be to hard to run down with 'no' weight...

Going to be a cracking race.

 

[chili pepper]

As good as Beadman is can't make them run faster.

If King (who is also a super jockey) gives her a good ride she'll still smash them.

Macca - I'd be extremely suprised and disapointed if there was little pressure on. Its a Doncaster and the heat will be on surely

 

[Macca_]

Yeah probably wrong choice of words.

Don't want to see them going like the clappers is what I mean

 

[juggalo_strit]

Well aren't i stupid.
In this thread i've written that i fancy Racing to Win and that Mnemosyne has no hope.
Well stupid me backed Mnemosyne.

 

[Macca_]

Yeah I batted around it too. Took the quinella with Racing to Win and Apache Cat. Apache misses the kick and gets used up to lead. All over for it in this field.

Should have stuck to the old saying there juggy... A good colt will always beat a good filly.

 

[OVP]

The funny thing about this race, you could have put a blanket over the entire field from first to last at the winning post. Dont think ive ever seen such a big field be so close at the end, from first to last. Well done to Bossy, i had a feeling about RTW but my loyalty to Mnemosyne stopped me from making a bet

sh*te happens huh. Btw if i had have stood out RTW instead of Mnemosyne, i would have got the first four too. FFS, that hurts the hardest grrr

 

[OVP]

Even funnier thing ... Boss knew how good Mnemosyne is, but was convinced to ride RTW. You're a dipsh*t Hawkes ffs !! Boss on Mnemosyne would have been even better than Beadman. Christ, what a total git Hawkes really is !! If he DOESNT know by now that Mnemosyne needs a jockey with balls, then ffs LET ME be the trainer, because you are starting to sh*t me Hawkes. Still, im happy for Racing To Win, he deserved it ... but Hawkes had Mnemosyne going SUPEREBLY, right up until he selected the jockey. Craps me off ... i could have won sh*tloads if it wasnt for Hawkes' stupidity. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18842032-32343,00.html

Boss almost missed Doncaster
By Ray Thomas
April 18, 2006

GLEN Boss, Australia's champion big-race jockey, wanted to dump Racing To Win as his mount in the $2m Doncaster Handicap at Randwick yesterday.

Boss even rang John Hawkes, trainer of Mnemosyne, seeking the ride on the lightly-weighted filly.

"It's true. I wanted to get off Racing To Win for Mnemosyne but John Hawkes didn't want me. I better ring to thank him," Boss said.

Boss then showed his professionalism by refocusing on the job of riding Racing To Win in the Doncaster.

"I spoke to (trainer) John O'Shea at length about the horse and this race," Boss recalled.

"It wasn't like he talked me into riding Racing To Win or anything like that.

"It was more the confident way he spoke about the horse," the jockey continued.

"What worried me was whether the horse could run a strong 1600m.

"Even though Racing To Win had won the George Ryder Stakes last start, I still thought he needed to go up another level in order to win the Doncaster.

Advertisement:
"John assured me Racing To Win was ready to peak for the Doncaster and he thought the horse could win. When John talks like that, then it pays to listen because he's usually right."

Racing To Win, sensationally backed into $4.40 favouritism, justified O'Shea's faith by winning the Doncaster by a half-length from the unlucky (again) Johan's Toy ($8) with a short head to Bentley Biscuit ($26) third.

Malcolm ($4.80) was a fast finishing fourth as the bunched Doncaster field crossed the line with only three lengths covering first to 10th.

Ironically, Mnemosyne, the filly Boss was desperate to ride, tired badly in the straight to finish 13th, beating only early leader Apache Cat to the line.

Racing To Win gave Boss and O'Shea their second Doncaster together, after combining to win with Private Steer in 2004.

Boss also won the race on Sprint By a decade ago.

Boss, who is studying for his helicopter pilot's licence, actually flew into the centre of Randwick racecourse yesterday about an hour before the first race.

He rode a winning double after earlier scoring on Above Deck in the Japan Racing Association Plate.

Soon after dismounting from Racing To Win, Boss embraced O'Shea in the mounting yard, prompting Racing NSW stewards to interview the jockey after the race.

Chief steward Ray Murrihy took a dim view of Boss's impromptu waltz with O'Shea and fined the jockey $200. Boss copped that on the chin as he had already won a minimum $65,000 in winning riding fee.

Boss has now won eight Group One races this season and is again on track to be the nation's leading rider of big race winners for the third successive season.

The 2005/06 season has probably been Boss's most memorable as he won a third Melbourne Cup and first Cox Plate on champion mare Makybe Diva, The BMW on Eremein and now the Doncaster Handicap.

Boss is on track to continue his Group One winning spree at Randwick tomorrow when he partners hot favourite Serenade Rose in the AJC Australian Oaks.

He can finish the carnival on a high next Saturday, when his big-race mounts include weight-for-age star Eremein in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Boss will leave Sydney racing after Saturday's meeting to sign a lucrative two-month riding contract in Japan.

The Daily Telegraph