A horse who has already established one notable winning pattern will be out to create another after scoring the fourth stakes win of his career at Caulfield on Saturday.
Second Effort, already a multiple winner of Victoria’s biggest country sprint, will attempt a second successive success in the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes at the same track in three weeks following his victory in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).
Second Effort, Brad Rawiller - Photo by Sharon Chapman
“He just keeps coming up year after year,” McDonald said.
“Same time, same horse and we’re hoping it’ll be the same result next time out.”
Second Effort’s record includes wins at the Warrnambool May racing carnival for each of the past four years, with the Listed Wangoom Handicap being added for the past two.
“The softer tracks around this time certainly help, but he seems to be getting better every year,” McDonald said.
“I thought it was a very good run when he ran third here a couple of weeks ago and when he gets up to the 1400 metres in the Lawrence he should be suited even better.”
“He’s a horse that just keep standing up.”
McDonald said he had set Second Effort for the Monash, Bletchingly and Lawrence Stakes and if the horse held his form he would give him his chance in the Group One Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31.
“It’s the same set of races I won with Regal Roller a few years back,” he said.
“This horse isn’t up to Regal Roller’s class, but he’s honest and this is his time of year.”
For the second run in a row, Second Effort missed the start, but this time jockey Brad Rawiller was able to take up a more forward position.
From the 400m the pair were the ones to beat as they moved into a perfect spot behind the leaders as they began to give ground.
When Rawiller called on him, Second Effort ($5.50) responded gamely to hold off Academy Jack ($41) by a long neck with Launay ($6) the same margin away in third.
