Champion jockey James McDonald is in demand: a quick look at his rides at Randwick tomorrow shows he is on three favourites in group races for three different stables, so he is clearly keeping everyone happy.
MacDonald is the regular rider for the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki, which returns in the Tramway Stakes on Saturday. Looking ahead in the spring, he is the rider of Godolphin star Anamoe, and has major commitments to the Chris Waller operation. It’s a good position to be in, but also a tough one.
James McDonald will be looking to take home a couple of trophies from Randwick on Saturday.Credit:Getty
While everyone has an opinion on what he will ride, McDonald doesn’t make decisions until they need to be made, and, as he does in races, he makes a habit of getting them right.
“I have this problem every year. It’s a good problem to have, but I always let the cards unfold how they will,” McDonald said of Zaaki and Anamoe.
“It sounds boring, but it’s one race at a time and see what happens. But as long as they are apart, I will be riding both of them.”
Zaaki will look for back-to-back Tramway Stakes wins and is once again in the red with bookmakers and McDonald liked what he felt in a Hawkesbury barrier trial.
“He is brilliant, he is lovely and fresh, and Annabel has him bubbling ready to go,” he said. “He is a terrific horse that never disappoints you. He will put himself in the race and make his own luck, it will take a really good horse to get past him, even at 1400m.”
Zaaki has unfinished business with the Cox Plate later in the spring, but it’s the Caulfield Cup where Chris Waller-trained Surefire is heading with the $3.70 favourite in the Chelmsford Stakes.
The English stayer was fresh enough to win at 1400m at his spring return and McDonald has been keeping a close eye on him when he goes to Rosehill to ride work.
“The team were extremely confident he would run well first up, but he exceeded expectations by winning at the 1400m,” McDonald said. “By the look of him the other morning, he hadn’t gone backwards.
“He just gives you a great feel, and he only does what he has to in the run. When you ask him to go, for a mile-and-a-quarter to a mile-and-a-half horse, he has got a great turn of foot.
“He drew well the other day but has a sticky barrier on Saturday. We won’t be changing much with him because he has the tools you need to win.”
McDonald doesn’t want to see too much more rain for Furious Stakes favourite In Secret, which will look to go one better than last time in the Silver Shadow Stakes.
“She went terrific in the Silver Shadow and she will improve immensely from that,” McDonald said.
“Barrier 12 is never ideal but for her. I don’t mind it because she will get into a position in the race where I will be able to go where I want, and she has a lethal turn of foot.
“She is just a beautiful filly, but she probably needs the track to be on the better side of soft.”
He starts in the feature part of the afternoon in the Godolphin blue riding Andermatt in the Concorde Stakes before staying in those silks for In Secret.
McDonald mentioned The Everest for the sprinter after a winter win, and the Concorde could be the place where Andermatt shows off in the best company.
“I’m pretty excited to see him there against that quality of horse. He trialled beautifully and this is his time to shine.”
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