‘Pudd’ looking to lead the local charge in Mildura

Mildura Harness Racing Club president Allan ‘Pudd’ MacDonald is among the region’s trainers looking to cash in at Friday night’s (Apr. 21) ‘locals race meeting’.

The fastest class event on the 10-race program is for 53 to 61-rated runners, with all other races allocated for those with an NR of no greater than 50.

MacDonald said the meeting had been specifically programmed with the locally-prepared horses in mind.

“For 12 months of the year most races up here are for horses rated up to 61, so Friday night’s meeting has been set for a class of horse which wouldn’t have got a run on the Tuesday or Saturday nights of the carnival,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald will be represented by Bizzness Class (Bling It On) and Hungry Hogarth (Lincoln Royal) , and believes both horses can figure in the finish of their respective races.

Hungry Hogarth served notice of a coming win when he finished an unlucky fifth behind Didshedoit on his home track last week.

“He got knocked over at the start and then had to come wide from last and probably should have run second, so I give him a good chance on Friday night,” MacDonald said.

There will be plenty of cause for celebration should Hungry Hogarth salute on Friday night.

“He is named after a mate of mine Michael Hogarth who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, and he is a punter who follows the horse closely and always comes to watch him race,” he said.

“I told him that I’d win a race with him at $151 one night and that’s what price he was last week.”

Bizzness Class has drawn the pole in the opening event and has the conditions suitable to notch-up his first career win at his third outing for MacDonald after transferring from the Michael Gadsden stable.

“He led from barrier five at Charlton four starts ago so he should be able to hold the lead from the pole,” he said.

“He can get on a knee and Michael Gadsden has done a good job shoeing him off it, but he’ll probably end up going back to Michael where he can race on the bigger tracks.”

MacDonald reports that it’s business as usual for this year’s Mildura Cup Carnival after the harness racing complex was impacted by the floods late last year.

“The structure of the facilities was fine but the main issue was mould from the water,” he said.

“The upstairs dining area has been back open for about six weeks and all rooms are operational.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria