Dalasan was back in the winner's circle for the first time in over two years when triumphant in the race named in honour of his co-trainer, the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville, but needed to hold the result in the steward's room.
Ridden by Jason Holder for Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, the 6yo son of Dalakhani swept down the outside to defeat the Magnus gelding Just Folk by a neck with the Uncle Mo (USA) gelding Oh Mo a half head back in third.
Melissa Julius, on the runner-up, lodged a protest for interference in the closing stages, which stewards dismissed.
Dalasan was making his first start since finishing sixth in the Group III RA Lee Stakes in May and returning to the winner's list for the first time since the Group III Chairman's Stakes in April 2020. Since his last win, sixteen of the 22 races contested by Dalasan have been a Group 1 level.
"The owners wanted to win a Group 1 with him, and that's why he was in those races," Macdonald said.
"I'm sure it wouldn't have been 28 months if we aimed at the level just below.
"This is sensational. It would've been very disappointing if he'd got beat."
A 6yo entire, Dalasan advances his record to eight wins, four seconds, and five thirds from 36 starts while banking $3,506,540.
An $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase for his trainers from the Mill Park draft, Dalasan was bred by the SA-based Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust.
He is the best of three winners from four to race from stakes-placed Kitten's Joy (USA) mare Khandallah, purchased by Hancock Quality Bloodstock for $35,000 out of the Widden Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale.
Khandallah comes from an international family featuring Group winners Galic Boy, Smokey Stover and Dreadnaught.
Macdonald Gluyas Racing purchased Khandallah's So You Think filly for $300,000 out of the Mill Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Named Party Princess, she has placed once in two starts and finished fourth in the opening race at Morphettville on Saturday.
Khandallah has a 2yo American Pharoah (USA) and a yearling Vino Rosso (USA) colt. She was covered by Ghaiyyath (IRE) last spring.
