Gauteng Summer Cup entry Donald Mcdonald put together a gutsy performance under an enterprising ride by national log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy on Sunday.
The gelding registered his maiden stakes success when winning the R100 000 Listed Michaelmas Handicap at a wet Hollywoodbets Greyville, to drop the curtain on a cracking weekend of racing across the world.
In a race run at something of a muddling pace in rainy conditions, Kennedy took his season total to 74 when making his move at the right moment at the top of the home straight.
Warren Kennedy keeps Donald Mcdonald at his task to hold Sean Veale and the low-flying Wealthy at bay (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Rewarded for a consistent string of performances, Donald Mcdonald (4-1) plugged away and dug deep to hold off the attentions of the evergreen 9yo Wealthy (16-1), who clearly relished the conditions at his favourite track, to score by a head in a time of 120,21 secs.
Another consistent galloper, Sir Michael (5-2) stayed on without threatening, a further 1,20 lengths back.
The favourite Native Tongue (3-1) failed to produce a strong finish and had to be content with fourth.
Please watch the replay here:
Trainer Gavin Zyl complimented Kennedy on his ride and said that the victory was just reward for owners Roger Coppin, and the father-and-son combination of Laurence and Jarryd Wernars.
Interestingly, Van Zyl, who thanked Gold Circle and the jockeys for keeping the ‘show going’, mentioned that a decision to give the gelding a short break on a farm saw him returning lame to stables.
“No good deed goes unpunished!” he chirped.
A R425 000 purchase at the 2018 BSA National 2yo Sale by Team G Racing, the half-brother to exported champion Celtic Sea (Captain Al), Donald Mcdonald is a son of Ideal World (Kingmambo) out of the twice winning Mark Of Esteem mare, Ireland – the latter was, coincidentally, also trained by Gavin van Zyl.
The 5yo completed an outstanding weekend for breeders Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein and took his stakes bank to R285 000 with his fifth win and six places from eleven starts.
Top jockey on the day was Smanga Khumalo who rode three winners. Gareth van Zyl saddled a double.
- Next meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville is on Monday – first of nine races is off at 12h00.
