McDonald was aboard on two of those occasions.
Bearing in mind this will be his first raceday start, and he has drawn the outside alley it may be a case of watching the tote, but Good Vibrations could well send out just those signals right from the outset of his career.
Later in the day, the evergreen galloper Vosne Romanee lines up in the Haunui Farm Group 1 WFA classic.
Now a 9-year-old, this fellow knows his way round the traps and with well over a $1 million tucked under his saddle in stakemoney, gets a chance to increase the total.
Owned by Martinborough winery owners Ian and Alana Smart, Vosne Romanee is retreating back to 1600m having more recently extended his journeys to 2000m and beyond.
But four of his nine victories have come at this distance and he is also a previous winner at Otaki, credentials that could help him to run into the money.
The Smarts also have their very promising gelding Nuits St Georges lining up in the next race, a Rating 75 also over 1600m.
Whereas Vosne Romanee is happiest on good going, this fellow prefers it with the sting out although his latest effort on firm footing at Trentham on January 21 produced a third behind winner Viadana.
McDonald takes the mount on Nuits St Georges and Buddy Lammas rides Vosne Romanee.
There are only two locally-trained runners at the meeting.
Frank Stammers has Desert Saboteur entered in race 6, a Rating 65 over 1200m and Opaki trainer Grant Nicholson lines Squeast up in race 7.
Although Desert Saboteur didn't really fire a shot at Tauherenikau, he won on heavy going at Greymouth and if Otaki is worse than soft he would have to figure in calculations.
Squeast has also shown his best on softer going and has a runner's chance, although facing likely types in last-start winner Misty Heights and California.