As expected Black Caviar and Theseo were the high-profile withdrawals at Tuesday’s first acceptances for the Doncaster Mile.
The $2 million Randwick feature on April 16 was whittled down to 88 after 222 original nominations were received.
The world’s highest-rated sprinter, Black Caviar will run in Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and is expected in Sydney for the TJ Smith Stakes on April 9 while Theseo will be targeted at other races.
Theseo’s trainer Gai Waterhouse was left with seven entries as she chases a seventh win in the Doncaster with More Joyous leading the charge.
The mare is the $3.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of topweight Whobegotyou ($8) and last year’s winner Rangirangdoo who is at $13 alongside three-year-old Ilovethiscity.
Rangirangdoo’s trainer Chris Waller has 10 entries left in the race including Triple Honour ($51) who won the race in 2008.
Waller showed his strength heading to the Doncaster at Warwick Farm on Saturday with Danleigh winning the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes and Triple Elegance the Group Three Liverpool City Cup.
Triple Elegance’s win guarantees him a Doncaster start and he is at $21 with Danleigh a $17 chance.
There were 72 nominations for the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) on April 9 with 94 for the fillies Classic, the AJC Australian Oaks two weeks later.
Shamrocker, winner of the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday, has been entered for both the Derby and the Oaks as has Brazilian Pulse who defeated her in the VRC Oaks last spring.
Sepoy headed the 112 entries for the AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Derby day.
Sheikh Mohammed’s colt is the raging favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on April 2, the first leg of the two-year-old triple crown.
The Peter Snowden-trained Sepoy is the winner of all four of his starts including the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes.
AAP TURF
