A remarkable 1222 nominations for the 10 The Championships races at Royal Randwick have now been finalised, setting an exciting challenge for Racing NSW’s Handicapping Panel with less than two weeks to the release of weights.
Two events in particular – the $3million The Star Doncaster Mile over 1600m and the $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup over 3200m – require hours of painstaking form study to present a fair and equitable list for the combined 234 nominees.
Senior handicappers Damien Hay, who will oversee the The Star Doncaster Mile weights and Ben Dunn, who will supervise the Schweppes Sydney Cup weights, have an even harder job this year after nominations closed early.
“We had done some preliminary work on the major contenders before the closing of nominations,” Hay explained. “We work from the top down and start comparing ratings figures and also go right through the history of the race.
“In the Doncaster, weighting the three-year-olds can be tricky. It’s much about their previous form in other major races.”
Hay said this year’s The Star Doncaster Mile nominations are some of the best he has seen: “Our team is really looking forward to weighting these horses. You have It’s a Dundeel, Boban and Shamus Award, as well as the top three-year-old colt and filly, Zoustar and Guelph.
“You can then throw into the mix the overseas gallopers, Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) and Hana’s Goal (Jpn). Gordon Lord Byron has serious form overseas and has performed well on the world stage in Hong Kong. Hana’s Goal is a high-class mare although on our early assessment she would have to be weighted behind our top mares like Appearance, Red Tracer and Streama.
“And what about the Sydney Cup – we have the last two Melbourne Cup winners nominated in Fiorente and Green Moon. It augurs well for a great The Championships.”
– Australian Turf Club
