Breeders' Cup Mile Berth on the Line in Australia
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Photo: Grant Guy
Kementari wins the Randwick Guineas
An automatic entry in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) will be on the line April 7 at Royal Randwick through the Breeders' Cup Challenge, as Kementari, Happy Clapper, and D'Argento lead a 16-horse field—six of them trained by Chris Waller—for the AU$3 million The Star Doncaster Mile (G1).
As a part of the benefits of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series, the entry fees for the Doncaster Mile winner to start in the Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs will be paid. Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside North America to compete. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 22 to receive the rewards.
Godolphin's favored 3-year-old Kementari, trained by James Cummings, finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by superstar mare Winx in The Agency George Ryder Stakes (G1) over a soft course at Rosehill last time out March 24. A son of Lonhro, Kementari had won his previous three starts this year. He took the six-furlong Aquis Farm Eskimo Prince Stakes (G3) at Warwick Farm Feb. 10, the seven-furlong Chandon S Chic Easy Hobartville Stakes (G2) at Rosehill Feb. 24, and the one-mile Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (G1) March 10.
Saturday's race will be the 25th start for the 7-year-old gelding Happy Clapper, who was runner-up by a half-length to It's Somewhat in last year's Doncaster Mile. Trained by Patrick Webster, the Michael Thomas homebred held a short lead in the George Ryder until Winx passed him with 200 yards remaining, and he finished second at 20-1.
It's Somewhat broke Chris Waller's training streak of four consecutive wins in the Doncaster Mile (Waller won the race from 2013-16 with Sacred Falls twice, Kermadec, and Winx). This year, the 3-year-old D'Argento leads the six Waller-trained runners. The gray son of two-time Cox Plate winner So You Think has won two of four starts, most recently the Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (G1) March 24.
The Doncaster Mile is the first of two "Win and You're In" races to be run at Royal Randwick this year. An automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) will be awarded to the winner of the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (G1) April 14.