The clash of promising two-year-olds Sir Donald and Lauderdale threatens to steal the limelight from the older stakes race horses at Ipswich on Saturday.
Sir Donald and Lauderdale will both be having their second race starts when they clash in the Bundamba Plate (1100m).
The pair were the headline acts when they won heats of a two-year-old maiden over 1000m at Ipswich on May 25.
The Michael Nolan-trained Sir Donald, who is by top two-year-old sire I’m Invincible, ran faster time at 58.65secs with a final last 600m in a quick 33.43secs.
Nolan expects Sir Donald to have improved with the race experience.
“We have an opinion of him and he had won only an unofficial jump out before his win. He will have to take the next step now,” he said.
The Matt Dunn-trained Lauderdale, a Rothesay gelding, ran a slower time of 59.53secs with his final sectional leader timed at 34.5 secs.
However, he was just as impressive as he had to race four and five deep and came from back in the field on a track which favoured leaders.
Dunn said Lauderdale was much better drawn for Saturday’s race and could race closer.
“The barrier was always going to be a problem at his first race start and he had to go back but it was a good effort. He is still learning but I think he can win a better race,” Dunn said.
