McDonald decided to bypass the meeting because of a busy schedule.
He has opted to stay in Cambridge in preparation for the Te Teko trials tomorrow.
The recent Te Teko trials were abandoned.
McDonald will ride the talented Keep The Peace and other members of the Shaune Ritchie stable at the Te Teko trials.
McDonald has had three rides on Keep The Peace, winning races on her at Avondale and Trentham at her second and third starts.
Keep The Peace had four wins and three seconds from nine starts for $300,950 last season.
Her wins included the group one New Zealand Oaks in the hands of Opie Bosson and the group three Desert Gold Stakes under Jason Waddell.
She finished second to Katie Lee in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas for Hayden Tinsley and second to Posavina for Jason Waddell in the Lowland Stakes.
Keep The Peace last raced when unplaced in the AJC Derby at Randwick on April 10.
McDonald passed up some good rides at Riccarton today including Irish Charmer, who will be ridden in the last race by Opie Bosson.
McDonald will continue his association with Dancing Diamond and Voodoo Vixen on Saturday.
Both horses were impressive winners at Riccarton last Saturday.
• A track inspection at Riccarton yesterday resolved that due to the waterlogged nature of the 1200m chute all 1000m and 1200m races will be run on the course proper today.
