It may have been raining winners in recent weeks for James McDonald but the champion jockey is hoping for rain of a different kind on Saturday for the final day of the Golden Slipper Festival at Rosehill.
McDonald rode a treble on one of Australian racing’s biggest days last weekend when he won the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on Via Sistina, the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on Broadsiding and the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) aboard Autumn Glow.
The ‘World’s Best Jockey’, though, has the mindset of a champion and is more focused on what more he could have done to win where he was defeated – especially his nose second on Fangirl in the G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and his head second on Wodeton in the G1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
“You always look back at what you think you maybe would have changed,” McDonald told Idol Horse. “But that’s sport and that’s racing, isn’t it? You win some, you lose some.
“It was so very, very close to the four Group 1 wins, Fangirl was all heart and Wodeton proved just how good he is. We were lucky to get the two with Broadsiding and Via Sistina so hopefully another Group 1 double this weekend.”
It has been a dry autumn so far in Sydney. While the Sydney autumn can often be characterised by wet tracks, there has only been one stakes race in the city that has been run on soft ground so far in 2025.
McDonald, though, is hoping for the heavens to open. Not only is he aboard a number of horses who will get through the wet, but he has a number of bad gates to contend with on Saturday: his rides have drawn 9, 13, 14, 10, 7, 11, 13, 13 and 6.
“The rain can even things out a bit and I might need that with a couple of my horses,” he said. “The good thing is that I’m on horses that should handle the wet for the most part so I’m definitely hoping for a little bit of rain.”
McDonald’s rain dances may be working; showers are expected at Rosehill in the 24 hours before Saturday’s meeting, with heavy falls anticipated during the meeting itself.
The jockey is combining again with Via Sistina’s owners Yulong Investments and trainer Chris Waller in two Group 1 races at Rosehill this weekend.
He will ride English mare River Of Stars at her Australian debut in the G1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), while he will jump aboard Kiwi filly Movin Out for the first time on raceday in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).
River Of Stars was bought by Yulong from last year’s Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 1,650,000 guineas (AUD$3.56 million). Previously trained by Ralph Beckett, she was second at her most recent start in the G1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m) at Longchamp on soft ground in October.
“She’s working extremely well,” McDonald said. “There are obviously a few horses who have come in from the northern hemisphere and I felt like River of Stars has been the best one to settle in. She’s the one I’d say is working the best of them. Whether that’s any guide, I guess we’ll find out on raceday but she stays and she can quicken whatever the track so I think she goes in with a chance.”
Movin Out crossed the Tasman after finishing third in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) for Bill Thurlow. She is not the only runner in Australia on Saturday out of that race; runner-up Alabama Lass will contest the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington 15 minutes later.
At her first Australian start, Movin Out finished fourth to stablemate Lazzura in the G2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m). Now, the daughter of frequent Hong Kong visitor Staphanos gets her first shot beyond a mile.
“She’s gone to a new level since her first-up run,” McDonald said. “I rode her the other day and she felt great. She’s working extremely well and it looks a suitable race, although Yulong obviously has the hot favourite in there (Treasurethe Moment) too.”
McDonald also partners the Marc Conners-prepared Willaidow in the G3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) as the $7,000 Inglis Digital purchase looks to cap his rags-to-riches rise by securing a ticket for next week’s G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
“Marc has done such a great job with him,” he said. “He’s going quite well and he did well up to 1500m last time. He’s another who will appreciate the sting out of the track, so hopefully the rain comes.”
After Saturday’s programme, McDonald’s attention turns to the Middle East and the Dubai World Cup meeting where he has four confirmed rides.
McDonald will continue his storied association with Romantic Warrior in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m), while he will also fly the Hong Kong flag in the G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m) on Sword Point.
He is also set to link up with Coolmore in Dubai after the breeding operation diverted their number one rider Ryan Moore to Sydney in McDonald’s absence.
While McDonald will take the mount on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) – his first ride for the Irish maestro in almost seven years – he is already committed to John Size’s Howdeepisyourlove in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) and so will not partner recent Coolmore acquisition Believing ∎
