Owners and trainers’ are well aware how important it will be to ‘lock-away’ a start in the $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick, on April 12.
Many of the potential key Doncaster hopefuls line-up in the Ajax Stakes today, including the ultra-impressive Messene, a member of the ‘hot’ Team Hawkes barn.
A five-year-old son of mighty galloper and now champion sire Lonhro, Messene has won eight of his 11 starts and his past six on end.
Judging by the market moves over the past 24 hours, punters think he can make that seven on the trot and assure himself a place in the Doncaster on the opening day of The Championships.
Messene, a last start winner of the Listed $120,000 National Sprint (1400m) at Canberra on Cup day, has been $4.60 into $3.20 in fixed-odds markets and is a clear-cut second favourite at that quote behind Ecuador at $2.90.
He has firmed from $3, and Tony McEvoy’s Mouro has also had some specking, trimming in from $7.50 to be a $7 chance.
Steve Englebrecht’s Malavio has had some support, firming from $13 into $9.50.
– Racing Network
