While some may feel we have seen a changing of the guard with the introduction of the Everest, the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap still remains Sydney's premier race.
When looking through past years, it is no doubt a good horse's race, either won by an established star or an emerging three-year-old.
Between them they have won 10 Group 1s and while giving weight away they rate well on best form and set a decent marker to run at.
Brutal had been solid in two runs to begin this preparation, but clearly relished the step up in trip last start when game in defeat behind champion mare Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes [1500m].Away from Winx it was one of the weakest renewals we have seen, however he easily accounted for the rest and returned a clear new career peak.
In his first attempt beyond 1400m he returned a Timeform rating of 120, a figure which sees him right in the finish with just 49.5kg (probable weight) on his back.Three-year-olds have simply dominated the Doncaster winning 16 of the past 39 renewals, while providing just 16% of the participants.
Brutal fits the mould to continue this trend, he is only lightly raced and follows the same path as Kermadec in 2015.Prior to winning the Doncaster, Kermadec was rated 117 when finishing third behind Real Impact in the George Ryder — he was also ridden by Glen Boss in the feature mile.
The Ryder run should give him the perfect platform for Saturday's event and if able to springboard off that, he is expected to be very hard to beat.
With star colt and Rosehill Guineas winner The Autumn Sun off to the paddock the Group 1 Australian Derby has become a hugely competitive edition and a great betting heat.The Tulloch Stakes has thrown up the last two Derby winners and it again looks an important guide this season with the race rating well despite something of a surprise winner in Angel Of Truth.
20-1 probably undersells the win on Angel Of Truth – now rated 114 by Timeform – and the runner up Madison County also makes plenty of appeal in the early betting at prices around 12-1.Madison County was twice a Group 1 winner in New Zealand before heading across and running well in the Randwick Guineas behind The Autumn Sun.
He missed the Rosehill Guineas after minor injury but showed that was nothing to worry about with a strong closing effort in the Tulloch.His form there may have been a bit below his very best but the race was not set up to suit him, looking to make a long surge from too far back, and his effort in the circumstances hinted at him being better than ever.
From a yard that are no strangers to plundering big prizes in Australia and that won this race with Jon Snow just two years ago (also off the Tulloch) Madison County finds himself ticking plenty of boxes.Happy to play the Tulloch quinella in what looks a strong renewal of the ATC Derby.
Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips For Sky Sports Radio:Race 4 #14 La Scopa @ $4.00
Race 7 #2 Madison County @ $11.00 & Angel Of Truth @ $15Race 9 - #20 Brutal @ $5.50
