WEEKEND RACING RECAP – SATURDAY 4TH APRIL
There was some “experienced” racegoers at Royal Randwick on Saturday who have seen their fare share of Doncaster Handicaps in history. Some could go back to when the “Goodiwindi Grey” Gunsynd carried 9st 7lb won in 1972 or Super Impose making it two Doncaster Handicaps in a row in 1991 while the last filly to win the race Sunline carried 58kgs in 2002, but most of them considered the 2026 Doncaster Handicap to be one of the best, with a performance very rarely seen on any racecourse in Australia.
Victoria’s premier rider Jamie Melham had already had a racing season that was outstanding having won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double on Half Yours, but when her manager asked her if she could get down to 49kgs for a ride in the Doncaster, she was a touch reluctant until she was told the horse she would be riding would be the three-year-old filly Sheza Alibi. The filly had the right form having been a dominant winner of the Randwick Guineas beating the boys at her previous start and punters could not see her being beaten sending her out a $3.00 favourite in the Doncaster Handicap.
The race did not pan out as trainers (Moody/Coleman) or Jamie Melham had planned from barrier 13. She sat back near the rear and wide in the big field and the track was bit choppy but she started to make her move wide before the corner and when she was let down once balanced-up she put a class field away in two or three strides in one of the biggest wins seen at the Championships.
History was made in the Group 1 ATC Derby when Rachel King became the first female rider to win the blue-riband event. She put in a faultless display making Green Spaces relax in behind a moderate tempo but when she eased him to the middle track he relished the conditions and quickly put the race beyond doubt in a couple of strides. It was also the first Derby for popular trainer Bjorn Baker who celebrated as only he can after a major race win.
Chris Waller and James McDonald continued their season of Group 1 victories when Joliestar took out the T.J.Smith for the sprinters. She “stamped her passport” for Royal Ascot with a tough on pace win in the testing conditions. The plan is to take on the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in June then return for a tilt at The Everest. Giga Kick ($4.60) was brave in defeat while the outsider Skybird ($41) weaved back inside and grabbed the minor spot late.
Campione d’Italia put the writing on the board in the Golden Slipper that he would be winning a big race soon and he did not let supporters down relishing the step out to 1400m and winning the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce. James McDonald worked him into the race from the corner and he proved much too good for a quality field. Now a valuable stud proposition but hopefully he will front up again in the Champagne Stakes.
If the ATC Championships Day 1 is any indication, this could be one of the most outstanding Carnivals in recent history. Next week we have four Group 1 races on the program including the Queen Elizabeth Stakes which has been the highlight race the last couple of seasons.