After falling short as favourite in last year’s Doncaster Mile, Another Wil is back at Randwick seeking redemption, and trainer Ciaron Maher says the gelding is better placed this time around — despite another wide draw.
Twelve months ago, Another Wil arrived in Sydney on the back of three dominant Melbourne wins, including a powerful victory in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m). He backed up just seven days later for the Doncaster, but Maher admits the quick turnaround may have been too much.
“Last year just came a little bit early for him,” Maher said.
“He had to back-up, he had a wide gate and had to do a little bit of work early and probably overdid it a fraction.
He has matured a lot and I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
Another Wil kicked off his current campaign in style, defeating Mr Brightside in the C F Orr Stakes (1400m), before finishing a luckless fourth in the All-Star Mile (1600m) after being blocked for clear running in the straight.
This time, Maher has opted for a more spaced-out program, giving the gelding a month between runs with a jumpout in between to keep him ticking over ahead of the Randwick mile.
“It works for him. He was very good fresh, he was very good second-up and I’d expect him to be very good again,” Maher said.
Drawn in gate 18, Another Wil is rated a $9 chance, while stablemate Gringotts — drawn ideally in barrier six — is more favoured at $7 and looks a leading hope among Maher’s three-pronged assault.
Gringotts arrives off a gritty win in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), narrowly holding off Fangirl and Ceolwulf in a high-quality contest.
“The plan has always been the ‘Donnie’ and to do that at weight-for-age last start is pretty exciting,” Maher said.
“He drops to a nice weight (55.5kg), the mile is right in his wheelhouse so it looks a nice race for him.”
Completing Maher’s Doncaster trio is outsider New Energy ($81), who will be looking to bounce back after finishing unplaced in the Ajax Stakes (1500m).
“The horse does possess that ability. He will need things to go his way but he could hit the line pretty hard,” Maher said.
