Racing: El Roca Doncaster bound

Gordon Lord Byron (left) could be a rival for El Roca in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 12. Photo / Getty Images

Light weight helps overcome Busuttin's distance fears as he sets colt for 1600m feature.

Cambridge 3-year-old El Roca has been confirmed as a starter in the Doncaster Mile on April 12 with Glen Boss booked to ride.

El Roca ran a solid third in Saturday's George Ryder Stakes (1500m) behind Gordon Lord Byron and Speediness after leading from the barriers.

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin said he was not sure El Roca was a genuine 1600m horse but the temptation to go to the Doncaster on a light weight was a deciding factor.

Doncaster weights will rise at least 1.5kg in the absence of topweight It's A Dundeel, meaning El Roca will carry 51.5kg and possibly more if Boban and Gordon Lord Byron bypass the race.

The other option for El Roca was the TJ Smith over 1200m on the same day. "I'm not sure if he really gets the mile but you don't get many chances to get into a Doncaster on this weight," Busuttin said.

"I was really proud of him in the George Ryder and it would be nice to get him into a race where he could be ridden a little quieter."

El Roca has had four starts in his Sydney campaign, beating Dissident to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first-up on February 15.

He ran second to Terravista in the Liverpool City Cup (1300m) before going back to his own age group in the Randwick Guineas (1600m).

After being hampered early on, he missed a group one win by just a short head when second to Dissident.

El Roca is now the TAB's $8 second favourite for the A$3 million Doncaster behind Messene at $3.20.

Meanwhile, the Gordon Lord Byron team is happy to bask in the glory of his George Ryder Stakes win for a little longer before deciding on the Irish horse's next start. The 6-year-old is nominated for the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and the Doncaster.

Trainer Tom Hogan says the weather will play a big part in which race Gordon Lord Byron contests.

"We will wait until the week before the race," Hogan said. "If it is wet then the shorter race looks best. But the Doncaster is also tempting because he gets in well on the weights, with his international rating."

Although he was the highest-rated horse in Saturday's weight-for-age George Ryder (1500m), punters steered clear, sending him out at $19.

Hogan had a small wager on him at $20 and said the win was a bonus. "The race was to get him ready for his next race." AAP