Tulloch Lodge co-trainer Adrian Bott is confident that the front running Arbeitsam will handle the week to week back up when he steps out in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of The Championships on Saturday.
Arbeitsam, above, has to back up week to week to run in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Arbeitsam led all of the way to win the Group 3 $150,000 The Daily Telegraph Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday to earn a spot in the Doncaster Mile and Bott said it was always the plan to back the four year old up this week.
“He’s come through that race super. It takes a fair bit to knock him around,” Bott told AAP.
“He’s been set for this all the way through and he’s previously shown he can perform well on the back-up.
“We had no hesitation stepping up to the 2000 just to get the miles into his legs for this race. We think the formula will suit him.”
Arbeitsam will only have to carry 50kg with Michael Dee on his back and is s genuine lightweight chance who will no doubt cross the field from barrier ten and set the pace.
Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse agrees with Bott that Arbeitsam will have no trouble backing up and is giving the Snitzel gelding a great each way chance in the Doncaster Mile.
“Arbeitsam was nothing short of sensational last Saturday and he is certainly most deserving of his start on Saturday,” Waterhouse said.
“He has no weight on his back, the very in-form Michael Dee is aboard and although it is a very strong field, he’ll prove very competitive for you on the quick back up. Each-way chance.”
Pre post markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Doncaster Mile have Arbeitsam marked at $21 while the James Cummings trained Kementari is the $3.70 favourite.
The lightly weighted Kementari was a winner two starts back over the same course and distance as the Doncaster Mile in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 10 and then the three year old ran a brave race when third behind Winx and Happy Clapper in the weight for age Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24.
Golden Slipper winning jockey Brenton Avdulla takes the ride again on Kementari and the Lonhro colt will jump from barrier two in the sixteen horse Doncaster Mile field.
On the second line of betting at $5 is the Kris Lees trained Happy Clapper who is looking to go one better than last year when runner up to It’s Somewhat in the 2017 Doncaster Mile.
Happy Clapper has drawn the inside gate and will be ridden again by Blake Shinn who has partnered the seven year old in both his 2018 Autumn Carnival outings for a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 10 followed by a second to Winx in the George Ryder Stakes.
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