Winner of the Group II Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill back in March, the Lonhro colt Souchez was in for the fight of his life when contracting a virus after finishing fourth behind Sacred Elixir in the Group I JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Off the scene for four months, the 3yo colt finished fifth behind the high-class Spright in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick.
It primed the John O'Shea trainee for Saturday's $150,000 Listed Hilton Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Confidently backed from $20 into $10 despite his top-weight of 60kgs,
"I took him back from the gate," McDonald said. "I thought (barrier) 19 would have been a tough task to roll forward.
"He travelled up beautifully, let down really well. He looked like he was going to be a little bit unlucky but the gaps presented themselves and he burst through."
Trainer John O'Shea revealed the extent of
"We nearly lost him," O'Shea said.
"It was on Stradbroke day, he got very ill after the races and he spent about a fortnight in hospital.
"Some great veterinary work, they saved him, it was sort of like a colic post-race."
"We have him in at Perth for the Guineas. Whether we go or not we'll just wait and see how he pulls up.
"But I think he'll be a back-end autumn horse in Sydney and then he might find his way into a Stradbroke."
Souchez is the second of four foals of his high priced dam Vimy who died in October last year.
A 1.5 million Darley purchase at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale, Vimy was a daughter of the champion sire Redoute's Choice out of the top-class racemare Regimental Gal whose seven wins from 17 starts netted her owners over $1.6 million.
Regimental Gal's biggest successes came in the Group 1 VRC Lightning Stakes at Flemington and Group 1 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in addition to the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
At the conclusion of her race career, Regimental Gal sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Cressfield Stud for $800,000.
Vimy would win just one race and placed in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks.
A sister to Group III Triscay Stakes winner Lilliburlero, Vimy has a 2yo filly by Street Cry (IRE) named Canadienne and her final foal is a yearling colt by Sepoy.
