He sits in the second position on the Tasmanian drivers’ title, but reinsman Troy McDonald is about to leave the harness racing scene.
The former Victorian will return to his home state in the coming weeks and take a short break from the industry.
“It’s a combination of things really, being involved with 130 horses during the week, my partner Stephanie and my family & friends are all over there, so there isn’t really one reason,” said McDonald.
McDonald has driven 216 winners, with the bulk of those in Tasmania, has no set plan on his Victorian return.
“I will work things out when I get back but I will take a break from the horses in the short term,” he said.
“It’s not the best time to head back and try and get drives over there (in Victoria) as my claim ends in a couple of weeks, so I have a bit to weigh up,” added the talented reinsman.
McDonald drove five winners from 35 drives in his first season in the sulky in the 2014/2015 season before his rise to the pointy end of the premiership table.
He currently has driven 71 wins this season, with stakes earnings of just over $561,759.
“It has been a good couple of years. I have had a bit of success but it has been hard work and I’m happy with what I have done,” said McDonald.
McDonald will be out to add onto his season tally on Sunday with drives in seven of the nine races, with his best drives appearing to come late in the night.
Guido Da Siena has won two of his last five efforts and lines up in the Carlton Draught Pace.
“He is always a chance with the right run,” said McDonald about the gelded son of Art Major.
While McDonald will also take the reins aboard Tarleton Riley in the final race of the night, with the nine-year-old pacer also winning two of his last five starts.
The nine-race card commences at 17:39, with the first race to be shown on Sky Racing 2 with the remainder of the card on Sky Racing 1.
All races will be streamed on TasracingTV.
