THE 150TH RUNNING ON THE DONCASTER MILE

HISTORY:

* Highlight of first day of The Championships at Randwick.

* First run in 1866 when it was won by Dundee and has since been won by many of the finest horses to grace the Australian turf.

* Named after the famous racecourse in England's north.

* Regarded as Australia's premier mile race, past winners include Wakeful (1901), Chatham (1934), Hall Mark (1935), Fine And Dandy (1961, 1963), Time And Tide (1965), Tobin Bronze (1967), Gunsynd (1972), Emancipation (1983), Super Impose (1990-91), Sunline (1999, 2002) and More Joyous (2012).

* The late TJ Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse are the most successful trainers having each won seven times.

Waterhouse has three runners this year - Cosmic Endeavour, Pornichet and Diamond Drille.

* Six horses have won back-to-back Doncasters: Mildura (1940-41), Blue Legend (1946-47), Slogan II (1956-57), Tudor Hill (1959-60), Super Impose (1990-91) and Pharaoh (1994-95), Sacred Falls (2013-14).

* The fastest recorded time for the Doncaster was a blistering 1:33.7 by Belmura Lad in 1979.

TALKING POINTS:

* Sacred Falls is aiming to become the first horse to win three successive Doncasters. He is trained by Chris Waller who also won with Triple Honour in 2008 and Rangirangdoo in 2010.

Waller made history with the first four home in 2014 - Sacred Falls, Royal Descent, Weary and Hawkspur.

RACE PATTERN

* The favourite Hallowed Crown has drawn the second widest barrier which may force a change in his usual get-back tactics.

Second favourite, Japanese horse Real Impact, led all the way in his first Australian appearance to win the George Ryder Stakes. He has only started once on a rain-affected track which could have a bearing on his stamina.

Sacred Falls has won both his Doncasters on heavy ground.