It was a big day at Donald last Sunday for the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace camp, bagging three winners and unveiling a couple of exciting runners.
Star hoop John Allen combined with the stable to ride the treble, scoring in race one (Boss Queen), race three (Hitotsu) and race four (Crystal Dynasty).
But it was the win of short-priced favourite Hitotsu in a 1350-metre maiden that shone brightest.
After giving the Maurice colt a gun ride behind the speed, Allen was held up for clear running in the straight before pushing into the clear at the 200-metre mark for an impressive 1¾-length maiden win.
While punters who took the short odds might have felt anxious for a stride or two, co-trainer Eustace didn’t share their nerves.
 “I was confident he’d get through and win” he said.
The three-year-old is nominated for several feature races in spring, but Eustace isn’t sure where they’ll head with him next.
“We might go to Sydney with him or the Super Impose Stakes (October 2 at Flemington),” he said.
Of Boss Queen, who won a 1200-metre fillies’ maiden on debut, Eustace says she’s a “nice filly” who will be raced through her grades.
The daughter of Street Boss will likely head to a benchmark 64 at Sale on October 6.
Asked the next day how his trio of winners had recovered, Eustace was particularly complimentary of the Donald surface, agreeing that it’s one of the best tracks in country Victoria.
He said the stable loved bringing horses to Donald and that all their runners had come through well.
Major chance for Deano
This weekend brings a Group 1 opportunity for Horsham hoop Dean Yendall, with the Wimmera’s leading rider a live chance aboard the Maher/Eustace-trained Amish Boy in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
Yendall will also partner Future Score in the Naturalism Stakes for Matt Cumani.
The seven-year-old gelding looked sharp in a recent Stawell jumpout, winning his heat in slick time in preparation for his first-up assignment.