Champion jockey James McDonald has pointed to finding the two-year-old to hand him a second Golden Slipper as one of his major aims for 2024.
As the seven-time premiership winning hoop returns to Sydney racing this weekend, ahead of next week’s Magic Millions, he says despite his absence he feels an eighth title is still within reach and is predicting a big autumn for star mare Fangirl.
He’s also been “sharpened” by his successful six week Hong Kong stint.
James McDonald and Fangirl (Pic: Steve Hart)
“It’s great competing somewhere different and if anything it can only help with riding and sharpen you up a bit,’’ he said.
“It’s a high pressure jurisdiction, you’ve got to be on your game all the time. That’s been a lot of fun but I’m looking forward to ripping in.”
McDonald has six rides at Randwick on Saturday, and six at Canterbury on Friday night, and given his last NSW metro ride was at The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange on November 25 he was surprised to find he only trails by 11 wins in the jockey premiership race.
He left Sydney on 28 winners and in his absence Nash Rawiller and Tyler Schiller have skipped ahead to sit on 39 apiece.
“I anticipated being probably 20 behind, or even more,’’ McDonald said.
“It’s been fascinating to watch, I’ve left the door ajar I suppose and I’ll be doing my best and see how we go.”
As the leading Group 1 rider in the nation, McDonald, who turns 32 on Friday, naturally wants to add to his seven majors so far this season but he’s keen on another Slipper to go with his win on Mossfun.
It’s been 10 years since that win in the world’s richest two-year-old race and he says the search begins now for the standout youngster of the crop.
“Hopefully I can find a really good two-year-old for the Golden Slipper,’’ he said.
“It’s a signature race for our autumn and I’d love to win it again.
“Not being here for the last couple of months, I haven’t had a chance to ride many two-year-olds this season. I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into that.
“Aside from that nothing really changes from year to year, I try to ride as many winners as I can.
“I’ve got some strong firepower behind me, some really good horses to look forward to. I can’t wait to spring back on their backs when I get back to trackwork.”
Classy mare Fangirl was responsible for two of McDonald’s Group 1s in the spring, the Winx Stakes and the inaugural King Charles III, and he’s adamant the five-year-old can go on with it and be a star of the autumn.
“She had a brilliant spring and I think she can do it again,’’ he said.
“She was fantastic in the King Charles, that was a great feeling to have on her, and we’ve also got some beautiful three-year-olds to look forward to.”
Among his Randwick rides is the Chris Waller-trained Cadetship, who McDonald noticed made a promising return two weeks ago and will appreciate a step up in trip into the Precise Air Handicap (1500m).
The gelding clocked the third fastest last 600m (34.68, Punter’s Intelligence) first-up as he ran into fifth behind stablemate Robusto over 1300m.
“He put a really good win together at Warwick Farm when I rode him and then he went to a stakes race down in Melbourne,’’ he said.
“He’s a horse that has some talent, he was an eye-catcher in his one run back. He’s a nice horse and I’m looking forward to riding him.”
– Racing NSW
