Top Cox Plate hope tosses champion jockey in $5m drama

There has been big early morning drama at The Valley with champion jockey James McDonald dislodged from his highly fancied Cox Plate ride.

James McDonald thrown off Via Sistina

Cox Plate contender Via Sistina dropped superstar jockey James McDonald during her Breakfast with the Best gallop at The Valley, leaving the horse in doubt for Saturday’s $5 million race.

Via Sistina — who was second favourite for the race — appeared to blunder around the bend, which unseated McDonald but he thankfully walked away unharmed.

The horse completed two laps of the course riderless before being finally captured in the back straight.

Chris Waller returns with Via Sistina following her mishap at The Valley on Tuesday morning Picture: Racenet

“She (Via Sistina) was upset when she was out there galloping and continued to gallop for some distance,” chief steward Rob Montgomery said after the incident.

“We’ll have to look at the vision, looks like a bandage has come loose on the hind leg, we’ve had our vets have a look at her… Dr Grace Forbes said the horse is absolutely completely fine.“

On whether she starts in Saturday’s Cox Plate, Montgomery added: “Well that’s up to Mr Waller.”

Speaking to the media after the incident, champion trainer Chris Waller said:

“A bandage has come loose, she stood on the bandage, then a piece of gear has broken she has sort of tripped and that piece of gear has got caught up in her back leg and that’s given her a fright,” Waller said.

“She’s then run for a couple of laps and fortunately there was a clerk of the course out there that picked the horse up and she’s settled back down really well.

“She’s actually remarkably well. There’s no blood, no skin off. Our vet has been over her thoroughly and can’t find anything. We take comfort in that nothing has gone tragically wrong.”

When quizzed on whether she will start in Saturday’s Cox Plate, Waller said.

“I would say so but we’ll obviously use right up until Saturday morning to make that decision.”

MORE TO COME

There's been some early drama at this morning's Breakfast With The Best with James McDonald coming off Via Sistina around the home turn.

J-Mac has walked away unharmed, reports @gilbertgardinerpic.twitter.com/jRCNr8pHV1

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) October 21, 2024

Originally published as Top Cox Plate hope tosses champion jockey in $5m drama