Barrier blow for Forensics

Forensics' bid to become the first filly to win the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) in nine years has suffered a setback after the Peter Snowden-trained three-year-old drew barrier 17 for the $1.8 million classic.

Sunline was the last three-year-old filly to win the prestigious Randwick mile and ahead of the barrier draw, Forensics was favoured to match the champion New Zealander.

But Danny Nikolic will have his work cut out, getting the 2007 Golden Slipper winner into a position near the rail after such an extreme draw.

Forensics has drifted after her awkward draw, while her main rival Hot Danish drew barrier one and has firmed significantly. Tim Clark is to give the mare an excellent ride from a plum barrier.

The other three-year-old filly in the race, Serious Speed, also fared badly with the marble, coming up with barrier 19 in the 20-horse field and subsequently blew right out in the market.

Eskimo Queen (6) and Casino Prince (5) both drew very well and have firmed significantly to be on the third line of betting, while Mentality (14) and Snipers Bullet (16) have drawn wide and have drifted into double figures.

However, the wide barrier may not prove to be a massive disadvantage if the weather in Sydney does not improve ahead of Saturday's meeting, which contains four Group One races.

Doncaster Handicap (Barriers in brackets)
1. MENTALITY (Darren Beadman) (14)
2. SNIPER'S BULLET (Hugh Bowman) (16)
3. CASINO PRINCE (Damien Oliver) (5)
4. GERMAN CHOCOLATE (Zac Purton) (12)
5. MEGATIC (Jay Ford) (10)
6. ESKIMO QUEEN (Mark Zahra) (6)
7. MARCHING (Corey Brown) (9)
8. VALEDICTUM (Steven King) (13)
9. ALL SILENT (Peter Robl) (15)
10. FALAISE (Josh Parr (a)) (11)
11. FRIDAY CREEK (Glyn Schofield) (4)
12. JUST MAMBO (Tye Angland (a)) (8)
13. MOLOTOV (Craig Williams) (22)
14. FORENSICS (Danny Nikolic) (17)
15. GALLANT TESS (Jeff Lloyd) (2)
16. HOT DANISH (Tim Clark) (1)
17. PINNACLES () (21)
18. THESEO (Blake Shinn) (18)
19. SERIOUS SPEED (Craig Newitt) (19)
20. TRIPLE HONOUR (Glen Boss) (7)
21. GOD'S HAND (1st Emerg) () (20)
22. FIGHTING FUND (2nd Emerg) (Kathy O'Hara) (3)
23. MR UBIQUITOUS (3rd Emerg) () (23)