Donald hosted a competitive seven-race card on Saturday, with arguably the performance of the day coming in the opening event. 
Patrick Payne’s four-year-old galloper Powering Away ($11) defied a late betting drift to claim the 1206-metre maiden, clocking faster time than the corresponding benchmark event later in the day. 
He was forced to do it the hard way, too, with jockey Jake Duffy sitting wide the entire before striking the front at the 100-metre mark, holding a neck margin on the line from a fast-finishing I’lberidin’shotgun ($6) for Ballarat trainer Emma Church. 
Payne’s gelded son of Needs Further was third up from a spell, having chased Andrew Bobbin’s subsequent Adelaide metropolitan winner Restless Wind at Mildura first up, before a flat effort at Wangaratta seven days ahead of his Donald success.
Bouzouki breakthrough
The locals managed to strike a blow in race two at Donald, when the Paul Preusker-trained Play Bouzouki ($6.50) broke his maiden over 1356 metres. 
The gelded son of Flying Artie was sharply back in trip from an unplaced effort over 1700 metres at Geelong in May. He was always travelling well for Shayleigh Ingelse, who rode hands and heels late to secure the 1¾-length victory. 
The lightly raced five-year-old chased down Andrew Bobbin’s Boulderoo ($5) to lead home a Wimmera quinella, and will be suited back out in trip next start.
Get on the ride
The runner to follow from Saturday’s meeting is the aforementioned I’lberidin’shotgun, who peeled off the fourth-fastest last 600-metre sectional of the meeting. 
The Royal Symphony gelding was second up on the back of a sound return over 1000 metres at Ballarat, relishing the extra 200 metres. He will be breaking his maiden before long.