Doncaster Mile Barrier Draw: Winners, losers and a common misconception

The famous Doncaster Mile is one of the more misunderstood barrier draws in all of racing. The handicap conditions and large field often trap punters into the normal opinion of wide barriers = negative and inside barriers = positives.

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But the nature of the 1600m start at Randwick flips the script.

With approximately 600m run to the turn, every horse is given an opportunity to find a positive spot in transit. Yes, not every runner can find the rail, but with the rail in the true for the majority of Doncasters, it also increases the chances of horses landing off the fence because of the pattern that rail-true often delivers.

Stats back this up with 15 of the last 26 winners drawing barrier 8 or wider.

Randwick Track map:

Winners from the Draw

Gringotts (2)He’ll carry the topweight of 58.5kg, which meant his barrier was oh so important. Drawing a lovely low gate means he’ll need to do no extra work early and can take the shortest way home. Lovely draw.

Sheza Alibi (13)
This looked an ideal gate for the star three-year-old filly. She should land off the rail, out of trouble, and get clear air on her own terms. With that approximately 600m run to the turn, Jamie Melham has plenty of options to find the backs of positive horses.

Check out the barrier draws for Saturday 4 x Group 1 races here

Linebacker (9) and Pericles (14)
This duo is at their best when out and striding. Gates 9 and 14 allow them to glide across and land up on speed with plenty of options early.

Crystal Clear (8) and Headley Grange (7)
They may start longer than some of the key chances, but these two have drawn absolutely perfectly to take up the midfield stalking role. Both map to land off the rail and get to the right part of the track, which is key.

Speed map:

Losers from the Draw

Autumn Boy (1) and Attica (3)Both are three-year-old lightweight chances, but both have drawn to be shoved to the fence and may need a lot of luck in the straight. Other key chances with light weights will likely be off and gone if they are strung up at any stage.

Militarize (10) and Encap (4)
Both will get back, which isn’t a massive concern, but both have drawn in a way that means they may need plenty to go right. With their profiles, they need everything to fall into place to be winning. They’ll likely go back from their draws and either loop the field or ride for luck along the fence.

Overall

Overall, there were not a stack of losers in this draw, which is common from the very kind 1600m starting point. Off the back of this draw, it must be said there looks no barrier-related excuse for Sheza Alibi not to be winning this year’s Doncaster. The barrier draw should allow ability to come to the fore, not luck in transit.

Doncaster Mile Barrier Draw (1600m)

Note: prices correct as at March 31, 3pm.