Chris Waller’s in-form four-year-old Cellarman is tipped as the miler to beat in the Doncaster Prelude 2018 field and odds at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.
Cellarman heads the 2018 Doncaster Mile Prelude odds for this weekend at Rosehill Gardens. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to run as the penultimate event on the nine-race Tancred Stakes Day card on Saturday, there are 13 remaining hopefuls in this autumn’s Group 3 $150,000 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) after the withdrawal of ire Winner (10) and Invincible Knight (8).
One of three remaining hopefuls for star Sydney-based trainer Waller, Mossman gelding Cellarman leads the latest Doncaster Prelude betting markets at $4.20 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
The race offers the winner a final chance to secure a spot in the Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) field at Royal Randwick Saturday week.
Cellarman is not nominated for the 2018 Doncaster Mile but remains favourite for the Prelude drawn well in barrier five with Brenton Avdulla retaining the ride.
After three straight Sydney wins this time in, Cellarman had Avdulla jump aboard for his last start fourth when only a half-length off his winning stablemate Comin’ Through in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 17.
Returning to the same track and distance on Saturday, Cellarman goes up from 53kg that start to 54.5kg in the Doncaster Prelude and looks a strong chance to return to winning form.
Occupying the second and third lines of Doncaster Prelude betting at $5.50 at $6 respectively are Interlocuter and Radipole drawn opposite ends of the field.
James Cummings saddles-up Medaglia D’Oro entire Interlocuter for the Godolphin stable in Saturday’s race, the five-year-old out to improve on a close sixth when three lengths off the winner in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on March 3.
Kept fresh since, Interlocuter has strong Rosehill form and has won up to 2200m meaning he should be on the improve getting up in distance in the Prelude off a Warwick Farm trial fitter for his resuming run.
Radipole meanwhile has work to do from a wide gate, Michael Moroney’s galloper having caught the eye when third in the Ajax Stakes last start.
He was narrowly beaten there with 53kg and if he handles the wide alley and two kilo rise in weights shapes-up as a place chance again on Saturday.
In an open affair the other single-figure hopes in the Doncaster Prelude odds are Waller’s consistent Irish import Mister Sea Wolf ($8.50) coming off a lead-up second in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m) and the returning Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained eight-year-old Ecuador ($9) looking to add to his good first-up record (8:2-4-1).
Check out the full Doncaster Prelude 2018 field and betting markets below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your selections across the Rosehill race card this weekend at the right price.
