THREE-YEAR-OLD CARRIES HAWKESBURY HOPES IN DONCASTER

TUESDAY: March 28, 2023: TALENTED three-year-old Communist will carry Hawkesbury hopes on his back in the $4m Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Randwick Guineas winner is Hawkesbury’s sole representative in the four Group 1 features on the opening day of The Championships.

Communist, a son of dual Group 1 winner Russian Revolution, was a $160,000 purchase at the 2021 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and has already won nearly $1m, having been successful at four of his 11 starts.

Communist has thrived at Randwick trainer Michael Freedman’s second stable at Hawkesbury, and with only 49kg, will be ridden by apprentices’ premiership front-runner Tyler Schiller in the Doncaster.

Unfortunately, the gelding didn’t fare well at the barrier draw this morning. He has no 21, but will come in four places if the four emergences do not secure starts.

Whilst Freedman was naturally disappointed with the wide draw, he hasn’t lost confidence in Communist’s chances of snaring another feature Randwick “mile”.

“I thought his last run in the George Ryder was excellent to be beaten only a length by Anamoe,” he said.

“Communist is in good order, and worked on the Hawkesbury course proper yesterday morning and it was a good gallop.

“There’s no doubt we will need a bit of luck from where he have drawn, but with his light weight if Tyler can find a good spot with some cover, I think he can run a really good race.”

Communist beat Doncaster rival and subsequent Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 4 before his close sixth to Anamoe in the wfa Ryder (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight later.

He now drops 7kg going back to a handicap, and 32 three-year-olds – Brutal being the last in 2019 – have won the Doncaster.

Communist this evening was a $17 chance with TAB.com.au, with last year’s winner Mr Brightside the $5 favorite.

. Fellow Randwick trainer John O’Shea had success from his second stable at Hawkesbury when Allhallowtide ($2 favorite) scored at Kembla Grange today.

But it was tight at the end as the lightly-raced Savabeel three-year-old, ridden by Tom Marquand, narrowly pipped $16 chance Mayapple in the Maiden Plate (1600m) after the pair had duelled over the last 200m.

Allhallowtide, who was having only his third start, was given a perfect run by Marquand, but had to dig deep when Mayapple refused to surrender.

He raced in blinkers for the first time, conceded the runner-up 3.5kg, and gives the impression middle-distance racing will be his forte.

Allhallowtide was the 135th winner prepared out of Hawkesbury so far this season.