On the day of winter solstice, Donald and District’s Racing Club crammed as much as daylight would allow into a nine-race program held in beautiful sunny conditions.
Jockeys inspecting the track early on provided feedback that the ground was walking better than a heavy rating, resulting with its upgrade to a soft 7, with the rail out by three metres for the entire circuit.
The warm afternoon perhaps attracted the enthusiastic crowd; however, there were many notable achievements and accomplishments to be celebrated and many trackside to share them.
Most notable was jockey Will Gordon’s four wins on the day; riding Star Canto for trainer Ciaron Maher in the second race, Plenty Of Grunt for Symon Wilde in the third, Itwasonlyakiss for Patrick and Michelle Payne in the sixth, and Naval Force for Andrew Payne in the seventh.
Something else to be celebrated in the seventh was
apprentice jockey Ruby Lamont’s first race ride, coming third in a close finish riding Cheeky Blinders for Daniel Williams. At twenty-one years old, Ruby was accompanied by Racing Victoria’s apprentice jockey mentor, Darren Gauci, who, in his day, was one of Australia’s top jockeys. The pair were found watching the replay following the race and discussing Ruby’s overall performance, to which Darren stated, “She did everything right; she could have won.” Also celebrating Ruby’s “nerves of steel” regardless of the place she rode, were her thrilled parents and extended family, all trackside on the day to show their support.
World-Wide Race Rides
International jockey Valentin Le Boeuf has the hit Australian racing circuit nearly 12 months ago, and had his first run at Donald on Saturday in the final race on Gusmao, having come from a ride at Casterton earlier in the day. Beginning in New South Wales, Valentin rode for Bjorn Baker and Ciaron Maher for roughly nine months before moving further south to Ballarat, where he has been riding for Victorian trainers in the past three months.
Remaining in Australia is his number one objective, and he hopes for some success on the track to ultimately gain sponsorship. In the meantime, in addition to Australian circuits, he has ridden races last winter in France as well as scheduled to race in New Calendonia next week. From there? Who knows for this jet-setting jockey?
Racing Results
Five maiden races on the program kicked off with the Pacific Fuel Solutions short course over 1006 metres and the heavily supported Cool As Ice, trained by Maddie Raymond and Patrick Bell, ridden by Jake Duffy, took the win following a big run down the outside straight. In second place, Lots of Torque, ridden by Tom Madden for Simon Gebert. In third and fourth places came Te Awam Utu and Imacreedytwo respecitively. There was roughly a half a length margin between each of the placegetters in this big finish, with a photo decider between third and fourth.
The Russ Studio Jewellers 1356 metre maiden was the first of Will Gordon’s winning run, and it was a big run
indeed. Star Canto came from the rear of the pack, breaking away to the outside and putting on an impressive burst of speed with 400 metres to go. More Give It had been steadily ridden by Brad Rawiller, sitting behind the lead runner and looking to win, until overtaken at the last and defeated by a head and neck. A gap of nearly two lengths came before the next place getters with third taken by Supido’s Littleone and fourth, Sungazer, with very little margin between them.
Will Gordon got his second win in the Donald Steel Metaland sponsored third, riding Plenty of Grunt in another big run to take a comfortable win, over the 1356 metre distance. Two lengths behind in second place came the favourite Karasmatic, ridden by Brad Rawiller, with only a head margin between third placegetter, Two Cubed; Miss Maverick came two lengths behind in fourth.
The distance increased to 1628 metres for the Donald Megelec-sponsored fourth and Bruzani, ridden by Neil Farley, took the win by a close margin, in a first of a double for trainer Peter Chow. In second place, Tosen Impact, ridden by Mitchell Aitken followed half a length behind by one of the front runners, Judge Jenni, in third. A huge margin separated the top three from fourth placegetter, Russian Escape.
The Mackay’s Family Jewellers fifth tested out the runners at the same distance and favourite punters had their moment of glory when favourite, High Tempo, ridden by Lachlan King for the Hayes racing stable, took the win coming from fifth place in the pack and to the delight of a local syndicate of owners present on the day for the event. Unleashed along the straight, High Tempo left second placegetter three lengths behind, the second-favourite Omamori, ridden by Ryan Hurdle. Third-favourite, Cliste, appropriately took third place (trifecta winners would be pleased) with a long shot Milady in fourth.
The sixth was the first handicap race of the day, sponsored by Donald Motor Lodge over the same distance as the last. Will Gordon gained his third win on Itwasonlyakiss, coming from sixth place to take the win along the straight, by a head on Late Harvest, ridden by Brad Rawiller in second place. Third and fourth places went to Moscow Red and favourite Morthan Efficient respectively.
The Goldacres Handicap was over 1356 metres and Will Gordon’s fourth win for the day on Naval Force. This was a close finish at the post and a photo decider with the front runner, Lucinda Boyd’s trained and ridden, Quizlet, gaining second place. Cheeky Blinders, ridden by debut apprentice jockey Ruby Lamont came in third and Pentegra was the fourth runner.
Favourites dominated in the Buloke Plumbing 1006 metre sprint. Cool the Jets, ridden by Brooke King for Jyi Lukey broke away with 200 metres to go, taking first place by nearly a length and a half. Per Sempre, ridden by Neil Farley had come from last place in the run and broke through the pack with 150 metres to go to take second position. Half a length behind in third place was Cool Charlie with Shadow Black taking fourth position.
The final race of the day over 1206 metres was won by Tallapoosa at whopping odds of over 30:1 and after a whopping run from last position. Jockey Sarah Field took the outside track along the straight to take the win closely in a double for trainer Peter Chow. Margins were close between all placegetters, with second place awarded to Villianesque, ridden by Lachlan King, Gusmao and his international jockey taking third, and Cavill Tycoon in fourth.
Track News
In other news, the Donald and District Race Club welcomes new track manager Oscar Hier, who is a Donald local returned from Swan Hill after completing his apprenticeship at Murray Downs Golf and Bowls Club. In addition to this new member of the local racing team will be new additions to the entrance and ticketing booth with work set to commence in the near future. No doubt the racing community will appreciate the new additions to the club and show its support for future race meetings.
Donald is due to meet again on Saturday, July 12, then again on Saturday, September 13, before the big calendar event for the year, the Donald Cup, scheduled to be held on November 16. Get behind your local racing club and be trackside for all the excitement of the country racing season!