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Comments by the Racing NSW Handicapping Panel following the release of weights for the 155th running of the $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile on Saturday, 4th April 2020.

A total of 154 nominations have been weighted for the 155th running of The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) (Group 1), to be staged on Day 1 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick.

Happy Clapper (Blake Shinn) - the popular galloper is joint topweight for this year's The Star Doncaster Mile. Image by Steve Hart Photographics

Heading the weights are multiple Group 1 winners Happy Clapper and Avilius (GB), they have been allocated topweight of 58.0kg on a 50.0kg minimum (49.0kg for three-year-olds).

Happy Clapper is a former Doncaster Mile champion, carrying 57.0kg to victory in the 2018 edition of the race. And Happy Clapper is a previous winner of the 2018 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and the 2017 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) carrying 57.0kg.

Avilius (GB) is a previous winner of the 2019 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), the 2019 Group 1 H E Tancred Stakes (2400m) and the 2019 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Next in line on 57.0kg is Mozu Ascot (USA), a dual Japanese Group 1 winner of the 2018 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) and the recent 2020 Group 1 February Stakes (1600m) in Tokyo.

Te Akau Shark (NZ) and Persian Knight (Jpn) have been allocated 56.5kg. Te Akau Shark (NZ) is a last start Group 1 winner in New Zealand of the BCD Group Sprint (1400m).

He has previous placings in the 2019 Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and the 2019 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). Persian Knight is a previous winner of the 2017 Group 1 Mile Championship (1600m).

The highest rated mares are Alizee and Melody Belle (NZ); both mares have been allocated 55.5kg. Alizee is a multiple Group 1 winner of the 2017 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), the 2018 Group 1 Coolmore Legacy (1600m) and the 2019 Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).

Melody Belle (NZ) is a multiple winner of the 2018 Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), the 2018 Group 1 Windsor Park (1600m), the 2019 Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m), the 2019 Group 1 Haunui Classic (1600m), the 2019 NZ Stakes (2000m), the 2019 Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), the 2019 Group 1 Windsor Park (1600m), the 2019 Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the 2019 Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

Alabama Express, Bivouac and Super Seth head the three-year-olds and will be asked to carry 53.5kg. Alabama Express is the recent winner of the 2020 Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m), Bivouac is the winner of the 2019 Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and Super Seth the winner of the 2019 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Heading the weights for the three-year-old fillies is Loving Gaby with 52.5kg, winner of the 2019 Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m); Loving Gaby has also been placed in the 2019 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

The 2019 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Funstar is exempt from ballot and will carry 49.0kg as a three-year-old and the 2019 Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) winner Quackerjack is also exempt from ballot and will carry 51.0kg.

Click here to view the full weights for the $3m The Star Doncaster Mile