Macduff to continue Polytrack run

Trainer Joey Ramsden first tried Macduff on the Greyville Polytrack on Gold Cup Day last year in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m and the Australian-bred son of Street Cry flew up late to beat Go Direct by a long head.

He didn’t run on the track again until June this year and once again demonstrated his liking for the Polytrack in a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m when he again made up ground late to beat Waltzed Home by a neck.

It was an impressive win in that the distance looked to be a touch short and he was having his second start after a layoff. We could be seeing a whole new Macduff as Ramsden had him gelded just two days after he finished 14th out of 15 runners in the Sun Met at Kenilworth in January.

His comeback run was in the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville and it was a decent enough effort as he finished just 5.40 lengths behind Ten Gun Salute. Probably because he was running over 1200m Ramsden opted to try him in blinkers last time and they seemed to do the trick as he will be running in them again at Greyville today in a MR 94 Handicap over 1400m.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe was given the ride last time and he will be back aboard for this event.

Buffalo Soldier will be making his debut on the Polytrack but his form is good enough to make him a candidate for top honours.