SYDNEY - Sydney trainer Chris Waller looks set to have an embarrassment of riches in the Doncaster Mile after Danleigh staked his claims for the feature with an outstanding George Ryder Stakes win at Rosehill on Saturday.
Waller also has one of the pre-race favourites, Rangirangdoo, headed to the Doncasteralong with Triple Honour who was eighth to Danleigh, who has never won over the 1600m of the Doncaster, run at Randwick on April 17.
However, Waller believes the 6-year-old is appreciating longer trips as he matures.
"I think he's looking for 1400, 1500, 1600 now," Waller said.
"I know he's won a Manikato but he was fresh that day.
"He's in the Doncaster and he can't get rehandicapped. He's got a big weight to carry [57kg] but he's a weight-for-age horse so he's probably earned it.
"It was good to see Triple Honour poking up there too, he ran a cheeky race, and Rangi is back home in the stable."
Danleigh ($4.60 fav) settled with the tailenders before Hugh Bowman weaved a passage through the field and the gelding unleashed his customary big finish to score comfortably by 1 lengths from Dao Dao ($7.50).
New Zealand's reigning Horse of the Year King Mufhasa ($13) led and battled on gamely another three-quarters of a length back with Palacio De Cristal an eye-catching fourth.
The Grahame Begg-trained Palacio De Cristal was another unsuited by the slow ground.
"She floundered at the 600. I told him [jockey Peter Wells] to follow Danleigh but Triple Honour kept annoying her all the way," Begg said.
"But it's obviously not her preferred surface either and she's crying out for Randwick."
Victorian El Segundo was a solid fifth in his first start in Sydney and first test on a wet track. Trainer Colin Little said the 8-year-old did enough to earn another shot at the spring.
"It proves to us he's still got something left and that was the point of bringing him here." He was unsure whether El Segundo would run again in Sydney or be spelled.
