McDonald Handed The Keys To The Hall Ferrari’s
24 April, 2019
Harness
Reinsman Stuart McDonald is poised to have one of his best nights in the sulky at Gloucester Park on Friday night, picking up a number of key drives in the absence of Gary Hall Jnr.
Hall Jnr was suspended for seven days following last Saturday night’s Bunbury meeting, paving the way for McDonald to be the number one driver on the evening for the Gary Hall Snr stable.
McDonald said he had been given some small chances to team up with Hall Snr’s stars in recent times and was buoyed by Hall Snr giving him the opportunities.
“I drove Balcatherine last week and I have worked King Of Swing this time in,” he told RWWA Harness.
“It’s good to pick up these drives and also good to have Snr showing that faith in me.”
King Of Swing, the 2018 WA Derby winner, makes his eagerly anticipated return in the Westside Auto Wholesale Pace (1730m) and will start from barrier six.
The four-year-old was unplaced in his final four starts last campaign, after winning six of seven races to start it.
McDonald said King Of Swing was back to full health and rated as the best of his drives on the night.
“He was really sick last campaign, but he’s come back well this time in,” he said.
“This isn’t a strong field and I think he’s good enough to sit in the breeze and win.
“He should be too good for them.”
McDonald said he also expected Herrick Roosevelt to bounce back to the winner’s circle, after he was unlucky in Free-For-All company last week.
Herrick Roosevelt was checked and broke into a gallop last Thursday night, but McDonald will look to make the most of barrier one in the Garrards Horse & Hound Pace (2130m).
“I’m hoping he can lead and win,” McDonald said.
“If Overboard Again had drawn one, I think he’d be hard to beat, but with Herrick in one I’m pretty sure he can hold up.”
Balcatherine will be looking to solidify her spot in next week’s Group 1 WA Oaks when she lines up in this week’s Oaks Prelude (2130m).
The filly was unable to make up ground from the rear of the field in last week’s Oaks Prelude, but McDonald said he expected her to be much closer to the speed this week from barrier nine.
“She has to run a good race on Friday to make the Oaks,” he said.
“I couldn’t get any momentum up at any stage last week.
“She will get put into the race this week though.”
McDonald’s other key drive for the Hall Snr stable on the night is Speed Man in the Westral Pace (1730m) and said he expected a solid display from the four-year-old first-up, but could find stablemate Caviar Star difficult to beat.
The Gloucester Park meeting gets underway at 5.20 on Friday night.
Tim Walker