McDonald to cash in on NSW prizemoney increases with Forty Thirty

Dual acceptor Forty Thirty could be one of many runners Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald plans to take to Sydney in the future to cash in on the prizemoney increases that have been implemented by Racing New South Wales.

McDonald will wait as long as possible to decide on the venue for Saturday with Forty Thirty being a final acceptor in the $85,000 Myer Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill as well as the $70,000 Fujitsu Air Conditioning Handicap (1600m) at Flemington.

The weather will be the telling factor to help McDonald determine where the noted wet tracker will start on the week end, if at all.

“I might even scratch him from both and wait for next week,” McDonald said.

“I will be dictated by the weather.”

“Flemington is a dead five and it does dry out quickly while they’re forecasting showers for Sydney which is a slow seven.”

The Sydney forecast is for showers and McDonlad will lean towards the wettest venue with Forty Thirty’s form guide showing that he has won on the slow and the heavy.

“He’s very effective on heavy ground,” McDonald said.

“It makes a big difference to the horse, he virtually goes on it like he’s on top of the ground.”

Three starts back Forty Thirty was a decisive winner at Sandown on a heavy 9 over 1500m then followed that up with four and a half length win for the front runner over 1600m at Caulfield.

The Mossman four year old was then well beaten when third to Banca Mo over 1800m at Flemington on July 7 when sent out favourite.

If McDonald decides to travel to Rosehill for the weekend with Forty Thirty, it won’t be the last time he ventures north and will be looking for the better prizemoney for his runners where suitable.

In fact McDonald has already had recent success since the New Soth Wales prizemony increases came into effect on July 1 with five year old mare Umatain winning at Canterbury on July 11.

“Umatain won there last week at Canterbury and he will run there again or at Wyong next week,” McDonald said.

“It’s only eight hours up the road. You can really leave the day before the race if you have to and I’ve got a good base at Rosehill where I stay with either Steve Wilson or Tim Martin.”

Racing New South Wales Chairman John Messara announced in April following the High Court’s decision to uphold the validity of the Race Fields Legislation and the fee charged by Racing NSW that money being held will be distributed into prizemoney increases and infrastructure as needed across the racing industry.

The new prizemoney levels which were implemented on July 1 saw normal Saturday Metropolitan races increased to $85,000 with midweek metropolitan races to have a purse of $35,000.

“We are determined to see participants across all sectors of the industry benefit and receive a fair return for their labour or financial investment whether as an owner, trainer, jockey or strapper. The flow-on effect to service providers such as vets, float drivers, farriers and feed merchants will also be substantial,” said Messara.

“While these prizemoney adjustments will place NSW in a most competitive position against all Western Racing jurisdictions, we will be aiming for further increases to prizemoney including the Group and Listed category, subject to success in other revenue generating initiatives which are currently underway.”

McDonlad is not the only Victorian trainer taking advantage of the increased prizemoney levels with Melbourne’s premier trainer Peter Moody already having established a satellite stable at Rosehill.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.