The Donald Cup is heading to the beach after Dark Journey ($3.10 favourite) took out Sunday’s 1620-metre feature for Jason Warren. 
The Mornington-based horseman floated just one runner up the highway, the eight-hour round trip paying dividends as his five-year-old gelding proved too strong in the $80,000 event. 
Harry Coffey partnered the son of Needs Further for the first time, drifting back to the second half of the field on settling and travelling comfortably throughout. 
Horsham hoop Dean Yendall, chasing his seventh Donald Cup victory, led the field aboard Rhinoceros ($16) but was given little peace, under pressure from the 600-metre mark as challengers emerged everywhere before the home bend. 
Coffey remained still on Dark Journey until the 250-metre mark, able to angle widest and arrive with fresh legs, taking over in the closing stages and winning in relatively soft fashion on the line. 
Sunday’s victory was the gelding’s sixth from 24 attempts, and third this preparation from six starts.
City beckons Wilmott
Archie Alexander’s talented galloper Wilmott ($5.50) was perhaps the most impressive winner at Donald, making light work of his rivals in the 1350-metre benchmark 70. 
The gelded son of Pierro has returned in fine fettle this preparation, winning a Horsham jumpout before a luckless first-up run at Bendigo behind Guerite in a heat of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series, that galloper going on to win the final on Oaks day at Flemington. 
Back in grade for Sunday’s contest, the five-year-old looked well placed and enjoyed a lovely trail throughout for jockey Declan Bates. 
Easing out three-wide on the home bend, Bates had a lapful of horse as he cruised up to race leader Divine Thoughts ($8), taking over inside the 200 metresand easing away for a two-length win. 
Alexander’s galloper now has six wins from 16 starts and looks sure to measure up to metropolitan company in the off season.
Back to the ’Rat
We’re racing at Ararat on Tuesday before a big set of jumpouts at the same track two days later — fire up the barbecue, team.