The opening race at Bordertown could very well set up a big day for Strathalbyn horseman John MacMillan, who makes the two and half-hour trip to the South East armed with a big team of five runners.
Gondolier, a 21-start maiden, looks to have found a winnable race and MacMilllan admits if he doesn’t break through today it’s going to be hard to find a better opportunity.
He’s marked a $1.70 chance with tab.com.au but MacMillan was quick to stress the horse had proven a costly conveyance and a frustrating horse for the stable, despite having banked more than $40,000 for his owners.
“He’s very frustrating,” MacMillan said while boarding the Wellington ferry.
”He always seems to strike one better. He’s run into a couple of nice horses along the way and even today, I’m not sure I’d have any horse who had as many chances as him as an odds-on chance.
“He’s using up his chances.”
MacMillan also has Avid General ($4.80), The Haitian Poet ($5.50) and Holy Sangria ($4.60) while Dissolute is the outsider of his five at $9.50 in the final race on the seven-race program.
“With Holy Sangria the worry is the barrier a little bit and The Haitian Poet will also run well,” MacMillan said.
“The only one I’m really worried about is Dissolute, he’s got a wide barrier and by that time of that day the track is likely to get a bit firmer and he won’t like it. But I’m optimistic about all their chances.
“Sometimes you think you’re going to have a good day and you don’t, that’s the game, but hopefully they do today.”
