Jack Milner: Donald Mcdonald returns to racing on his favourite surface on Monday and looks set to find his way back to the winner’s enclosure.
Gavin van Zyl’s charge has run his last two races on the turf track at Hollywoodbets Greyville, but his best form has been on the Polytrack on which he will line up today in Race 5, a MR 90 Handicap over 1700m.
After five starts on the Greyville Polytrack, which resulted in four wins and a 0.90-length third, Van Zyl opted to put this Ideal World gelding back on the turf. He went off favourite at 13-20 but was caught late and went down 0.50 lengths to Favour.
That was in December last year. Donald Mcdonald was given a lengthy break and next surfaced in a MR 81 Handicap over 1800m on the Greyville turf in July. He found minimal betting support and went off at 6-1, which indicated he was going to be in need of the run.
So, it came as no surprise that he could only finish fourth but was only beaten 3.30 lengths by Gentleman’s Wager.
Back on the Polytrack we are likely to see a more robust Donald Mcdonald. His last three races were run in blinkers, but they have been removed for this race. He will carry 61kg and has Warren Kennedy in the irons.
Highveld trainer Paul Peter is carded to run four horses at this meeting and the best looks to be Space Race in Race 7, a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m.
This race is specifically for apprentice riders and Peter has engaged Philasande Mxoli who claims 2.5kg. That means that although Space Race is carded to carry 62kg, she will come down to 59.5kg.
This Master Of My Fate four-year-old has only had one race on the Polytrack and on that occasions she romped home by 3.60 lengths over this 1200m. She clearly loves this surface and from No 2 draw she could be the stand-out bet on the card.