McDonald’s globe-trotting ways collide with hunt for seventh straight Sydney title

A refreshed James McDonald is hoping for clearing skies at Rosehill as he juggles shots at international glory with his bid for a seventh consecutive Sydney jockey premiership.

McDonald returned to Sydney racing on Friday night at Canterbury with a win with first ride back aboard The Gatekeeper a little more than nine weeks since his last rides in town. He then has six chances at Rosehill on Saturday, but that is all subject to the weather.

James McDonald after winning the 2023 Cox Plate on Romantic Warrior.Credit: Getty Images

The Rosehill track is already a soft 7 following wild midweek weather, and more could come on Saturday, putting some runners in doubt.

It was a dampener for McDonald, who has been suspended since Boxing Day for his part in a race fall at Hong Kong. His stints riding there, and trips interstate for major carnivals, meant he had spent little time at home in Sydney before the enforced rest.

“It was a fantastic break,” said McDonald, who was crowned last year again as the world’s best jockey.

“We didn’t go anywhere, just stayed home. We hadn’t been home for three months, so it was nice.”

Another whirlwind schedule kicks off on Saturday night when he catches a late flight to Hong Kong for rides on Sunday, including Voyage Bubble in the group 1 Stewards’ Cup, a race they won last year.

He is then on a midnight flight to Dubai to ride Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior in trackwork leading up to the group 1 Jebel Hatta next weekend. That is the start of the pair’s campaign, taking in races in Saudi Arabia and Japan.

“He steps up every time,” McDonald said of the 2023 Cox Plate winner.

“They don’t come along very often like him. For him to do it in three different countries and now tackling his fourth and fifth soon, it’s a pretty remarkable effort by the horse, and he seems pretty happy with himself.”

The trips will make McDonald’s shot at another Sydney title tougher. Only George Moore, with eight, has a longer winning streak. McDonald, though, holds a 10-win advantage on 46. Asked if the premiership was still a goal, he said: “Of course, especially while I’ve got a bit of a lead.

“I’ll be forfeiting a few meetings, which makes it a bit harder. I’ve got to make the meetings that I am here count.”

With that in mind, he was keeping a close eye on the weather, which could delay the debut of his shortest-priced runner on Saturday, Wodeton.

The Wootton Bassett colt, a $15 chance for the Golden Slipper off two trials, was an odds-on favourite for the two-year-olds race. A $1.6 million yearling, Wodeton could be saved for another day if the track is too wet.

“It would’ve been nice if the weather stayed dry; I would have been a bit more confident,” McDonald said. “Hopefully, it dries out a bit.”

McDonald is on another Chris Waller-trained favourite, Osipenko ($2.60 Sportsbet), in the listed January Cup (2000m).

Osipenko has not won in 21 months but was denied by a bob of the head last start in the Summer Cup.

“He probably thought he won last start, there was only a whisker in it,” McDonald said.

“He’s in really good form and home track, 2000 suits him, give in the ground suits him, so he looks really well placed.”

Cigar Flick and Polyglot were other favourites for McDonald.

“Polyglot is first up and heavy ground is probably a little question mark, but he’s going really well,” he said. “Cigar Flick loves the wet ground, and she’s flying, so she’s a good chance.”

Maher weighs up wet track run for King’s horse Gilded Water

Top trainer Ciaron Maher may scratch Gilded Water if the track is too wet at Rosehill on Saturday to give owner King Charles a chance at a second Australia Day Cup on January 27.

Four-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding Gilded Water has won his two starts in Australia in impressive style after coming from England, where he had just four runs for one victory and a placing.

Gilded Water races to an easy win at Randwick on December 21.Credit: Getty Images

He was unplaced and injured in his final race in England, at Royal Ascot, but came back with victory at Kembla Grange’s The Gong meeting over 2000m, then delivered a three-length domination at Randwick at 2400m on December 21.

On the back of those performances, Gilded Water is an $8 equal favourite with Sportsbet for the group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 12, but he needs more wins to ensure he makes the field.

Now at an 81 rating, Gilded Water is set to carry 61.5 kilograms in the benchmark 78 2400m handicap, the fifth race at Rosehill on Saturday. He was a $1.90 favourite from gate five with Jason Collett to ride.

Maher, though, was wary about racing the exciting prospect on a heavy surface. Rosehill was a soft 7 on Friday after midweek downpours and continuing overcast weather, which could bring more rain.

“I’m going to see how the track is in the morning, but he’s a strong horse – he’s well, and I think he would handle it,” Maher said.

“But we will reassess in the morning.

“His Majesty did win the Australia Day Cup with another horse [Chalk Stream in 2023], so that was mentioned and that’s an option as well.

“But the horse is very well; second run at a mile and a half, and he’s done well.”

The Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm is a listed $200,000 race over the same distance.

“It’s just, do you need to?” Maher said of running on testing ground on Saturday.

“There’s plenty of time, and he’s a young horse who’s had only a few starts. And he’s still got plenty of potential, so it’s all about building them and their confidence and working towards your goal.

“At this stage, I’m pretty happy. If it was a [soft] seven, I’ll probably have a look at it. If it’s worse, maybe not.”

Maher said Gilded Water was injured in his last UK start, in June last year, but he was given time to heal before coming Down Under.

Jockeys hospitalised after nasty fall

Jockeys Beany Panya and Blake Spriggs were airlifted to Canberra Hospital and the remaining two races abandoned after a fall in the sixth at Moruya on Friday. Spriggs was conscious but had head, chest and abdominal injuries, while Panya was in and out of consciousness after they fell rounding the home turn. Their mounts, Blesstas and The Boomerang, appeared to escape injury.