James McDonald produces masterful ride on Kapakiri to hold out premiership rival Nash Rawiller

James McDonald extended his premiership lead over Nash Rawiller with a double at Rosehill, which included a perfect ride on Kapakiri.

James McDonald (white cap) on Kapakiri holds out Nash Rawiller (blue, green cap) on Age Of Sail at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Top jockey James McDonald dealt a seemingly knockout blow to arch rival Nash Rawiller’s premiership hopes with a tactically perfect ride to get Kapakiri home at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

McDonald delivered a 10 out of 10 steer to deny Rawiller the chance of launching his challenge on race favourite Age Of Sail in The Agency Real Estate Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).

Rawiller attempted to make his move on Age Of Sail along the inside but when he attempted to push out on the Kris Lees-trained stayer, McDonald kept him in a pocket.

It forced Rawiller to bide his time until 150m from home but by then it was too little, too late as Kapakiri held on to prevail.

A peach from @mcacajamez 🍑

He keeps the favourite in a pocket on Kapakiri and they go on to win narrowly for @cwallerracing 💪 pic.twitter.com/d2JV7C18F7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2024

“I had a sneaky idea where my old mate was,” McDonald quipped post-race.

McDonald (84 wins) had come into the meeting leading Rawiller (81) by three wins after the pair had shared honours at last Wednesday’s Randwick Kensington card with a win each.

Rawiller is set to miss Wednesday’s Canterbury Park card after picking up a whip use suspension last weekend.

McDonald’s victory on Kapakiri extended that advantage to five heading with three meetings remaining in the 2023/24 campaign.

He is attempting to become just the third rider to win six consecutive Sydney jockeys’ premierships, joining Ron Quinton (1978-79 to 1983-84) and the legendary George Moore, who had a record eight successive premierships from 1961-62 to 1968-69.

McDonald had already booted home Mayfair in the first before producing the ride of the day to get Kapakiri home from Age Of Sail and the Annabel Neasham-trained Perfect Play ($14).

“There was a nice tempo and my fella was good the first half but one took off and he wanted to go with it,” McDonald said.

“He got charging on me a little bit.

“He took a while to come back but credit, he did come back to me a bit.”

Never mind the drift, Mayfair fights and breaks through at his second start for @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott. @mcacajamez moves to 85 metro wins for the season 💥 pic.twitter.com/xjcyuFQgLh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2024

Trainer Chris Waller, who is destined to win another Sydney premiership of his own later this month, admitted the ride won the race as he took his Sydney metropolitan win tally to 144 for the campaign.

“James spoke to me before the race and said I just want to get him to switch off and relax,” Waller said.

“Cleverly he put Nash in a pocket.

“He looked like the winner Nash and maybe the best horse didn’t win the race but I think the best ride did.

“It was a 10 out of 10.”

Kapakiri had been racing well this preparation without winning but thrived on an improving Soft 5 surface after

“We’ve seen how wet it has been over the past couple of weeks and to be running on reasonable tracks is what horses need,” he added.

Herb pounced! The @kjparkerracing-trained gelding wins the @tabcomau Highway.

Ripping ride from Jason Collett and that's an early double ✅✅ pic.twitter.com/4ktS1SY98u

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2024

McDonald very nearly had a treble after seven events but had to be content for second when the Nathan Doyle-trained Silvanito was gunned down late in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).

Silvanito ($2.70) was left in front a long way from home before being run over the top of late by the Kerry Parker-trained Herb ($8).

An energy saving ride by Jason Collett allowed Herb to save ground closer to the inside with the gelding unleashing a strong late sprint.

Herb has been racing well since joining Parker’s yard following former trainer Ben Smith’s suspension and got his reward at his third start for the stable.

“He has been terrific,” Parker said.

“He has been turning up every start and giving 100 per cent.

“There was a little concern with the drying track because his last few runs have been really good on wet tracks.

“But getting a gun run in transit out of the wind and tucked away, he just kept finding the line.”

Herb’s win was Parker’s third in as many runners this week while providing Collett with a race-to-race double following the earlier success of Lonhro’s Queen.

Originally published as James McDonald produces masterful ride on Kapakiri to hold out premiership rival Nash Rawiller