Donald Mcdonald will benefit from the move to the Polytrack in Race 5 at Sunday’s race meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The decision to move Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville race meeting to the Polytrack has resulted in a number of withdrawals due to the change of surface, and that includes three of the four runners Turffontein-based trainer Paul Peter was scheduled to bring to the meeting.
All of Sworder Street (Race 5), Western Fort (Race 6) and Bold Ransom (Race 7) have been pulled out, but Wine Tasting in Race 8 is still scheduled to take his place in the field.
The withdrawal of Sworder Street, a horse labelled as a “machine” by his connections, has paved the way for Donald Mcdonald to win his third career race when he lines up in Race 5, a Graduation Plate over 1800m.
No doubt, trainer Gavin van Zyl and jockey Warren Kennedy were not exactly heartbroken when the announcement came on Friday about the change in surface. Donald Mcdonald has run his last two races on the surface for a win and a fast-finishing third. In that last race he produced the fastest 400m to finish and was beaten just 0.90 lengths by Monarch.
He is not well weighted under the race conditions but there is little doubt this four-year-old son of Ideal World is a lot better than his current merit rating of 82. He has only raced four times for two wins and two thirds, and he can only improve from here.
His main danger is Jacqueline from the Dennis Drier yard but this five-year-old daughter of Jackson has only raced in fillies’ company and she will need to prove herself in open company.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Darkest Dawn, 5 Lord Caro, 4 Pulpit Rock, 2 Animus
Race 2: 2 Jays Dancer, 9 Rite Of Passage, 6 Lightening Spirit, 10 El Torero