Last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning jockey James McDonald will have every chance to break his own record of 10 wins during Cup week after he confirmed he has a ride in all 37 races at Flemington across the carnival.
McDonald’s book of 10 rides for Saturday’s Derby Day meeting includes five favourites, while he will partner with second favourite Loft in the Melbourne Cup, and Nature Strip and Anamoe on Champions Stakes Day.
James McDonald will ride in all 37 races during Cup week, barring any scratchings.Credit:Getty Images
“Last year was obviously something else, so it’s hard to live up to that, but we’ve got some really strong rides on the first day and that should carry on throughout the week,” McDonald said.
“It’s a great week to be a part of. Obviously last year was phenomenal, so if I can get that feeling it would be fantastic.
“They’ve obviously got to get there in fine form. The old saying is, ‘a week is a long time in racing’, so hopefully we get there in good form.”
On Thursday morning he worked with New Zealand raider La Crique, who is looking to do what fellow Kiwi Melody Belle did in 2019 when bringing group 1 form from across the ditch to win the Empire Rose.
“[I was] very pleased with the way she felt,” McDonald said.
“She worked beautifully, had a good look around the course proper, [and] she got her toe into the ground, but worked really well. It sets up really well.
“I was really rapt to get a feel of her. I think she’ll be very hard to beat.”
McDonald will also partner with Godolphin filly In Secret in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. She was a beaten favourite in the Golden Rose last month.
Jacquinot storms down the outside to beat In Secret in the Golden Rose.Credit:Getty Images
McDonald, who won the race last year on Home Affairs, said the three-year-old had the right form and could turn the tables on Jacquinot, who ran an impressive fifth in The Everest.
“She’s going really, really well and her form is impeccable,” he said.
“She was really unlucky not to win the Golden Rose last start, she only got bobbed the last little bit.
“She’s coming here [as] the fresh horse on the scene.
“She’s adapted to the straight really well with a couple of trials, so I’m very pleased with her. She’ll be a hard horse to roll.”
McDonald’s hopes of exceeding his 10 winners of last year’s Cup week have been slightly dented, however, with the news that top British rider William Buick will be in town, partnering with a number of Godolphin horses including Pericles in the Derby.
While McDonald won’t get to ride against champion Italian rider Frankie Dettori, who is in Sydney on Derby and Cup day, he was looking forward to doing battle with Buick.
Jockey William Buick will be riding at Flemington during Cup week.Credit:Getty Images
“[Buick will] keep me on my toes,” he said.
“We’re all fighting for rides at the moment, so it’ll be a great week. It’s very competitive and the fields are big, so it’ll be good.”
Godolphin Australia’s head trainer James Cummings said it was a significant coup to have Buick in Melbourne, riding for the Blue Army at Flemington.
“We had to throw a spanner in the mix,” Cummings quipped.
“J-Mac is riding so well, and he’s therefore quite difficult for us to get whenever we want him. He’s not a retained rider; William Buick, on the other hand, is a retained rider for His Highness Sheik Mohammed in Europe. If you have five minutes this afternoon, go and have a look at his stats. He’s just riding unbelievably well this season.
“He’s been a class rider for a long time already. He’s ridden in like 20 group 3s this season and won on 10 of them. That’s phenomenal, striking at 50 per cent. He’s won nine group 1s, turned up to the USA and ridden group 1 winners … and we’ve seen him turn up here before in Melbourne Cup week and get on 10-1 shots and still sail home on them.
“He’s riding in unbelievable form and will hopefully give James McDonald a little extra competition from the jockeys room.”
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