Lindsay Park is still hoping first emergency Rise At Dawn can secure a spot in the Doncaster Mile, hoping he can replicate the success of stablemate Mr Brightside, who won the race in 2022.
Mr Brightside’s breakthrough Doncaster victory followed a fourth-place finish in the All-Star Mile (1600m), and trainers Ben, Will, and Jd Hayes are following a similar path with Rise At Dawn. The gelding, a dual Listed winner, finished sixth in this year’s All-Star Mile, but benefits from a 4.5kg weight turnaround for Saturday’s race.
With a start still uncertain, Ben Hayes remains optimistic: “He has come out of the race in excellent order and with 51 kilos in the Doncaster, he’s got the same rating as Mr Brightside when he won it.”
Should he gain a start, Hayes expects Rise At Dawn to make an impact: “He has that high natural cruising speed and will surprise, like Brightside did.”
Meanwhile, Chris Waller, aiming for a record-breaking seventh Doncaster Mile, will saddle up five runners, including Moira and Anisette, two mares making their Australian debuts. Waller is confident they will perform well despite limited knowledge of their abilities.
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