The rain throughout the district and a heavily rated track resulted in the last minute decision to transfer Donald’s race meeting to Warracknabeal on Saturday, July 13.

The club did well in organising the change of location at such short notice and should be commended for its flexibility so the racing excitement could continue, though it can’t be helped, sadly, the change of locale may have lost some interest for the scheduled “Community Clubs Day”. Jockeys Liam Riordan and Bradwiller had a good day on Warracknabeal’s soft 7-rated track, with three wins each in the nine-race program. The Kavanagh stable also had some success celebrating two wins.

Racing Results

Race one: The Donald Steel Metaland Maiden Plate was run over 1000 metres. In a close finish, first place was taken by Hells Empire, ridden by Brad Rawiller for the Kavanagh stable. In second came Boulder Jack, ridden by Jack Hill for Dennis Oliver. In third place, Pockets‘n’puddles, ridden by Amy Hermann for John Rowe.

Race two: The Hitotsu Standing at Arrowfield Maiden Plate was run over 1200 metres. Corstens-trained, Maximum Power, ridden by Liam Riordan came up from third position in the pack, and finding a gap at the 200-metre mark, took the win by a length from the favourite, Centre Square, ridden by Mitchell Aitken for Ciaron Mayer. Two lengths back there was a photo decision where Skilful Artist, ridden by Brad Rawiller gained third place over Petra Stellam in fourth.

Race three: Megelec Electrical Contractors Maiden Plate over 1200 metres. Liam Riordan’s second win, coming from mid-field on Olivia’s Scandal trained by Austy Coffey, produced a strong run down the straight to beat Little Sandy ridden by Brad Rawiller for Symon Wilde by three-quarters of a length. Three lengths back in third place, Count Ida ridden by Cory Parish for Michael Jones, with the favourite, Feedback in fourth.

Race four: Donald Motor Lodge Maiden Plate over 1200 metres. The well-backed Runway Ruler, ridden by Fred Kersley for Tom Dabernig led from the gates for a confident win by two lengths over Serin, ridden by Jack Hill for Joanne Mugavin. A length and a half behind that, in third place, Chuckamicky ridden by Logan McNeil for Scott Whittle.

Race five: Goldacres Maiden Plate over 1200 metres. Riding the Kavanagh-trained Rhodesian Red, for the stable’s second win and the jockey’s third win on the day, Liam Riordan battled it out with Ryan Hurdle along the straight for a photo finish with Grundy Three Votes in second for trainer Robert Hickmott. In third place, Trap The Code, ridden by Cory Parish for Tom Dabernig.

Race six: Mackays Family Jewellers Handicap 58 over 1200 metres. Leading from the gates for the majority of the run, Lady Negroni, ridden by Jack Hill for Bady Cross won by two lengths ahead of Timbolton, ridden by Sarah Field for Graham Donaldson. In third place, Southern Native, ridden by Tayla Childs for Emma Church.

Race seven: Bet 365 Handicap over 1600 metres distance was won by the favourite, Another Nephew, from the Payne stable, giving Brad Rawiller his second win for the day. The race was between the two leaders five lengths ahead of the rest of the pack running stride for stride into a photo finish, awarding second place to Moon Yanco, ridden by Logan Bates for Mitchell Leek. Way back behind the two front runners, another photo decision awarded third place to Laurion, ridden by Liam Riordan for Rod Symons and Leica Trooper in fourth.

Race eight: Buloke Plumbing Handicap over 1200 metres. Prudden, ridden by Jake Duffy for Danny Laws took the lead with 200 metres to go and raced for home strongly to win by two lengths. A photo for the remaining places awarded second place to Love The Action (recently gelded, racing now is his ONLY action), ridden by Ryan Hurdle for Michael O’Leary. The favourite, half a head behind in third, St Pats Day, ridden by Brad Rawiller for Bob Challis, with Nicotera in fourth.

Race nine: Pacific Fuels Handicap over 1000 metres. The well-backed Kamchatka trained by Dale Schmitt and ridden by Brad Rawiller for his third win on the day, came up from third position in the pack to beat Rose Ring in second, ridden by Jack Hill for Daniel Bowman. First Division, which had led the pack was overtaken at the last to gain third place, ridden by Tianni Chapman for Helen Burns. A photo for fourth named Raging Monkey as the last placegetter.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 16 July 2024.