Saturday sees the running of the Doncaster Mile. At time of preview (Wednesday night) the track is rated a Soft (7). Showers are predicted to continue the rest of the week and into Saturday, so the track will be borderline Slow (7) or Heavy (8).

Here’s a horse-by-horse preview.

1. Sacred Falls $17
The 2013 and 2014 winner of this race is hoping to become the first horse in 150 years of the Doncaster Mile to win the premier Australian mile on three occasions (eight have won it twice).

He comes here third-up, and third-up last prep he was a very dominant Group 1 George Main Stakes winner over the track and trip, but that was at weight-for-age.

Here he carries top-weight of 58kg, conceding the bottom weight a massive 8kg on the handicap scale.

Last start in the Group 1 1500m George Ryder Stakes on Slipper Day at Rosehill, his run looked plain, finishing 12th of 14 beaten 5.7L, but sectional data shows his run was very good, in fact he clocked the third-fastest last 600m (33.80) of the race – behind only the third placed Kermadec who charged home late (33.44) and runner-up Criterion (33.73).

His fitness just gave way late but with that run under his belt he’s sure to be spot on for his tilt at the Doncaster Mile hat-trick.

He loves wet ground just about as much as he loves Randwick, where he’s a three-time Group 1 winner. Will get back from the wide gate for Purton, but he’ll be steaming home late and is a definite winning hope, a win that would etch his name into Australian racing immortality.

2. Happy Trails $17
Was 10th in the 2013 Doncaster Mile and ran a terrific sixth behind More Joyous in 2012.

Has had three runs this time in at 1400m, 1800m and 2000m and all have been typically honest efforts. He’s certainly fit enough for such a high-pressure race after a build-up like that.

A query on rain-effected going, having won just 1 of 14 tries on wet ground. That looms as a big danger to his chances.

Prefer others.

3. World Ace $15
Japanese raider with solid form-lines in Asia over the mile.

His first up run in Australia in the George Ryder was very good. Like Sacred Falls and plenty others he got back and was no chance of winning when they got an easy enough time in front. He ran the sixth fastest last 600m of the race.

Completely unknown in the ground that can bring undone many Asian horses accustomed to firm tracks.

A rough each-way hope on what we saw in the Ryder, a very good winning hope on what we’ve seen in Asia – but the question looms how he’ll handle Australian conditions.

4. Real Impact $7
The second of the Japanese raiders in the race won the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill a fortnight ago, beating eight others who line up here in the Doncaster – that has to hold plenty of sway.

He led that day, and there was no loafing in front, his lead time was half a length quicker than average.

I’m prepared to risk as an on-pacer starting from barrier 21 (18 without emergencies) and whose record suggests he’s an out-and-out dry track horse, especially in a race like the Doncaster Mile.

5. Moriarty $61
Group 1 winner in Perth during the Summer in the 1800m Kingston Town Stakes.

Resumed first up in the Ryder of the back of a pair of trials and put in a middling effort that showed he needed the run. I suspect this will be another ‘fitness builder’ in readiness for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the second day of the 2015 Championships.

Not for me.

6. Royal Descent $9
Genuine Group 1 mare who has a win at the top level to her name in the 2013 Oaks (by a lazy 10L!) but who is most renowned for her string of near misses at Group 1.

It’s been two years since she last won a race and many punters have come and gone off her, but she continues to run her usual genuine race without winning.

She was the runner-up in the 2014 Doncaster Mile after looking all over the winner at the 200m mark, as Sacred Falls snuck up along the fence to nab her. We know she’s a very good horse but performances like that have made me wondering if she enjoys a dog fight at the end of a race.

Her two runs this prep – Canterbury and George Ryder – have been very good, and she appears to be building up to a peak here. Of course the wet track is a huge plus for her, having won the Oaks by 10L on a bog.

I can’t have her on top, I can’t leave her out. That’s the sort of horse she is.

7. Ninth Legion $51
Doesn’t handle wet conditions whatsoever and very much doubt his class in a Doncaster.

8. Puccini $101
OK in listed grade last time. This is obviously 10-fold harder. Be surprised if he can manage to scrape into the top 10.

9. Cosmic Endeavour $34
Her run last start in the George Ryder over 1500m was her first go past 1400m and she was an abject failure, finishing last.

Better suited back to handicap conditions of the Doncaster Mile no doubt with the weight relief, but impossible to see her turning around last start.

10. Hallowed Crown $6
The boom three-year-old colt is the horse to beat. He’s something very special. Has won six of his eight outings including two Group 1s in the Golden Rose and Randwick Guineas (which was over this track and trip).

The wetter the better for him. He’s a star on all track surfaces but goes better on heavy ground while others aren’t at their very best.

Last time out in the Rosehill Guineas, a 2000m Group 1 three-year-old race, he ran a terrific Doncaster lead-up. He didn’t stay the 2000m quite as well as first and second but it was a run that would ensure he’d be rock-hard fit dropping back to the Doncaster Mile.

Had he drawn a gate I’d almost be declaring him past the post! That’s not to say he can’t win starting from the extreme outside, but it’s a very very tough task. Then again, who’s to say come race time out deep on a soggy Randwick track won’t be the best place to be?

He’s well weighted with 52.5kg and if Tommy Berry can reproduce his Golden Slipper heroics – where he got a position from the outside gate after 100m on Vancouver – he’ll be the one to beat. Bart and grandson James Cummings will have him primed to the second!

11. Hooked $19
Plugged away solidly last start to be beaten less than 3L in the George Ryder but doesn’t have enough of a turn of foot to win a big Randwick Mile.

12. It’s Somewhat $16
Was every chance in the Ryder where he dropped out late and was disappointing for mine but that was at WFA and he was clearly outclassed on that occasion.

Drops a massive 7kg off that run though, which is a huge advantage. Having run well in Group races in Europe over 3000m, there’s no doubt about him running a strong mile even though he hasn’t won a race past 1400m.

Drawn well, handles soft going, and has in-form jockey Craig Williams on. That makes him a very nice each-way bet at decent odds if you fancy him.

Stable is on fire, can definitely add the Doncaster to the Sheikh’s bulging trophy cabinet.

13. Diamond Drille $26
Three solid runs back this prep have her rock-hard fit to tackle the Doncaster.

Last start she was terrific in the Coolmore Classic, running home in very solid sectional times to just miss behind Plucky Belle and First Seal. Takes on the boys now but does get great weight relief, dropping down to just 51kg. The wide draw is no help though.

Either way it pans out I can’t see her winning the race.

14. Pornichet $7.50
Terrific last week winning the Neville Sellwood over 2000m, although she was entitled to do so given the dream run she secured.

I don’t like that race as a form guide coming into this on the quick back-up and dropping back to the mile of the Doncaster, but I’ve potted many a Gai Waterhouse runner and been left with egg on my face before and this horse is definitely progressive enough to leave me eating my words. Still, he’ll need to lift another couple of levels to win.

Talented horse but I’m taking a set against him at the odds and making him the best lay in the race… Place only.

15. Destiny’s Kiss $126
He’s a mudlark, having won three of five on heavy going. His form this prep is only fair however and he looks well and truly outclassed at his 125/1 odds suggest.

16. Arabian Gold $17
Ripper mare that rattled off the best closing sectionals in the Coolmore behind Plucky Belle. Have no doubt she would have won the race given a clearer passage down the home running.

Is an absolute ‘mudder’ who has won all three of her attempts on heavy going, and two out of three on slow going. Drawn to get the run of the race from Gate 5 and Chad Schofield will pilot giving him plenty of options from the alley to go out or stay in.

Only has to carry 50.5kg a drop of 5kg off her Coolmore Stakes effort.

A huge show, great each way value. She’s right in this with a major winning hope.

17. Leebaz $31
Very plain last week in the Doncaster Prelude, and that race was much weaker.

This is a horse with a decent amount of talent but the Queensland Carnival is his best chance of cracking a Group 1.

18. Rudy $26
Drops 8kg off last week’s failure in the Doncaster Prelude, but that won’t be anywhere near enough to see him winning a Doncaster Mile.

19. Suavito $15
Is the form Melbourne mare heading north for a well-deserved crack at the big time.

First up she blew away Dissident, the odds-on favourite, in the Group 1 Futurity over 1400m at Caulfield, before winning again second-up, this time at Flemington in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes over the mile.

She reeled off terrific sectionals in an easy win – second on sectional times out of the event was Kouram who won the Albury Cup. I know there’s a massive gulf between an Albury Cup and a Doncaster but it still goes to show how well this mare is going.

She’s a risk on the wet, having had three wet track runs without posting a win. Drawn Gate 1 and carries the minimum weight of 50kg, she’s a rough each-way hope if she can handle the going and not get bogged down on the inside.

20. Plucky Belle $31
Big odds for a horse who was a Group 1 winner at her last outing, that’s for sure! She takes on the boys now though, so that probably explains the 30/1.

I’ve included mares Arabian Gold and Diamond Drille right in the mix who finished behind her in the Coolmore so she has to be some chance with just 50kg on her back.

Has drawn well for Kath O’Hara to get another good trail and is a wet-track winner. Way over the odds and is a definite blowout in the race for punters, so include her in all your multiples.

21. Sweynesse (emergency) $12
Was very disappointing in the Rosehill Guineas over 2000m but follows the same path as Hallowed Crown now and drops back to the mile.

Hallowed Crown beat him in the Randwick Guineas fair and square at this track and trip two runs back, so can’t see him turning the tables and beating a crack field.

22. Kermadec (emergency) $6.50
Was enormous last start in the George Ryder, clearly the run of the race, if not the best run all day. Was the only horse to make up ground off a moderate tempo and his sectionals were by far superior to every other horse in the race.

Before that he was a tragedy, beaten in the Australian Guineas. He does need luck with his patter of racing but who better to have on when you need that than ‘Group 1 Glenn Boss’!

Huge show if he gains a start with only a miserly 50kg to carry. If he doesn’t and runs in Race 2 on the card the Carbine Club Stakes for the three-year-olds over a mile he’s an absolute lay down moral!

23. AOMEN (emergency) $126
Unlikely to gain a start, and wouldn’t have any chance even if he did.

24. Malavio (emergency) $126
Ditto.

TIPS
10. Hallowed Crown
16. Arabian Gold
12. It’s Somewhat
6. Royal Descent
20. Plucky Belle

Suggested bet
Hallowed Crown straight out at $6, with a saver on Arabian Gold (each way) $17 / $4.25.