Hippo Clan broke the roughly 20 year hoodoo for McDonald, speeding to victory in the Janet Braddon Memorial Final (453m) by a convincing seven length margin.

While Dane Beatrice’s win in the 2009 Golden Easter will remain a highlight of his training career so far, McDonald was relieved to collect some silverware at the Sid Kallas Oval track.

“It’s the first one we’ve won,” he said.

“We’ve tried all the Cups, the Braddon Memorial my pop’s memorial [John McDonald Memorial].

“It’s a relief,” he said.

Now boasting three wins from 20 starts, Hippo Clan will enter this Friday’s Lesley Ann Leonard Memorial Series heats at Dubbo coming off back to back victories.

Five of his kennelmates are also expected to enter a bid.

“We should have six in the seven heats. If he [Hippo Clan] keeps racing the way he is I’ll be really happy,” McDonald said.

Hippo Clan entered Saturday’s $2000-to-the-winner final at Cowra as the fastest qualifier and improved his time by one tenth of a second, stopping the clock in a blistering 25.80s.

Lynn Maney’s trained kennelmates Planet Of Dreams and Formula Man chased hard but couldn’t match Hippo Clan’s superior speed.

Owned in partnership with Sydney-based jockey Adam Hyeronimus, Hippo Clan is named after a group of Hyeronimus’ supporters – known as the Hippo Clan – which includes his cousin Blake Paine, who follow the Cowra product’s mounts.

“I told Adam I wanted to call him Hippo Clan and they were more than happy,” McDonald said.

Seven heats of the Lesley Ann Leonard Memorial Series will be run at Dubbo’s Dawson Park on Friday night with the first at 6.48pm.