Trainer Eric Sands has declared KZN-based Donovan Dillon to ride the 3yo Golden Ducat in Saturday’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.
Donovan Dillon with Golden Ducat at Summerveld yesterday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
With peak career successes at Gr2 level, the opportunity to ride the Philanthropist gelding presents a major vote of confidence for the rider who rode a great race to win the recent World Sports Betting Guineas on Wild Coast for Justin Snaith.
Dillon, who goes to scale at 56,5kgs, will have to do some serious wasting to ride Golden Ducat at his allotted 53kgs. We were unable to get a comment in this regard from either Eric Sands or Donovan Dillon.
The Johannesburg-born 26 year old’s first ride under rules came on 24 April 2011, riding Captain Lovemore for Dennis Bosch at Clairwood Park and his icebreaking win came at his 4th attempt on 15 May 2011, courtesy of Baranova for Michael Roberts.
