Popular gelding Happy Clapper shares top weight with Godolphin‘s Avilius for the Doncaster Mile with both given 58kg for the $3 million handicap.
Happy Clapper won the race two years ago carrying 57kg and is unlikely to run in the race with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 11, a week after the Doncaster his probable target.
He and Avilius are scheduled to meet in Saturday’s weight-for-age Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
The new $8 favourite for the Doncaster is Japanese horse Mozu Ascot who is entering quarantine ahead of his trip to Australia following his Grade One win in the February Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday.
Prepared by Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux, Mozu Ascot has been given 57kg in the Doncaster.
The Mark Newnham-trained Quackerjack is guaranteed a start in the Doncaster courtesy of his win in the Villiers Stakes in December and will carry 51kg with Rachel King to ride.
Quackerjack is a $26 chance in the Doncaster and will make his return in Saturday’s Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m).
Avilius is also the 58kg topweight for the Sydney Cup (3200m) a week after the Doncaster with Saturday’s Rosehill winner Master Of Wine the $6 favourite with the TAB.
The Hawkes Racing-trained Master Of Wine has 52.5kg in the Sydney Cup.
Japanese entry Kiseki has 57.5kg in the Cup. He finished second to Almond Eye in the 2018 Japan Cup and second to Lys Gracieux in the Takarazuka Kinen last June.
British horses Young Rascal, trained by William Haggas, and the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Verdon both have 54kg.