Doncaster carrot for Don’t Give A Damn

Danny Williams has upgraded his ambitions for Don’t Give A Damn after the gelding firmed as a Doncaster Handicap contender with a dominant victory at Rosehill.

The Goulburn trainer primarily aimed Don’t Give A Damn at the Country Championships, though after his fourth win in five starts via the Fresh For Kids Handicap (1300m), the $3 million Group One Doncaster shapes as the preferred target during autumn.

“Ive always felt he’s a Doncaster horse. It’s just a matter of whether he’s going to get enough rating points between now and then,” Williams said.

Providing the four-year-old maintains his superb form, Williams will require flexibility from Racing NSW because series conditions dictate Country Championship qualified horses line-up in the final.

The $500,000, 1600m showdown features on the Doncaster Day program at Randwick on April 7.

Don’t Give A Damn’s successful return to racing since October saw the gelding shorten dramatically from a $101 chance of the TAB Doncaster market to $26.

“I’ve all the confidence he’ll run a mile,” Williams said.

Don’t Give A Damn, the $2.35 favourite on Saturday, kicked on the turn and again at the 200m to orchestrate a 1-3/4-length margin over Insensata ($7), with Wild Heart ($6) a half-head in third.

“I didn’t have him quite wound up and he had them struggling a long way from home. He only gets better with racing,” Williams said.

McEvoy, who notched four winners in his first Saturday meeting since he suffered a hand injury in December, had no doubt Don’t Give A Damn was on an upward trajectory.

“I was worried a little bit then a hundred yards later he gave him kick and he held it to the line,” he said.

McEvoy was delighted to notch four wins from six rides on his return to Saturday racing following a hand injury.

“I’m happy with that. I had good rides. It’s always nice to get on the board early and blow the cobwebs out,” he said.