Trainer Jason Deamer enlists James McDonald as Hard To Say hunts Southern Cross Stakes breakthrough

James McDonald will chase back-to-back wins in the Southern Cross Stakes on a horse he denied in last year’s race at Rosehill on Saturday.

Hard To Say aims to go one better in the Southern Cross Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Champion rider James McDonald will get the chance to claim consecutive Group 3 $250,000 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) on a horse he played a pivotal role denying victory 12 months ago at Rosehill Gardens.

Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer has called upon Sydney’s leading rider as he looks to help Hard To Say breakthrough for a hard-earned stakes triumph on Saturday.

McDonald won last year’s Southern Cross Stakes on eventual Group 1 winner Lady Laguna where Hard To Say did his best work late to finish second.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Deamer has used a similar preparation with Hard To Say in the lead-up to the feature sprint and is hoping McDonald can help his consistent campaigner go one better.

Hard To Say was a last-start fourth behind Zarastro the Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) on the Gold Coast, a race he finished fifth in a year earlier.

“Everything has worked out pretty much the same,” Deamer said.

“The only thing was that the race on the Gold Coast got put back a week.

“We just had that little bit of rain earlier in the night up there so the track wasn’t quite to his liking.

“He didn’t have the best of runs but I thought he still tried very hard.”

• ‘Tone-deaf’: ATA boss slams leading hoop over jumpout fee war

Zarastro blows them out of the water to win the Magic Millions Snippets! 💥@[e-mail]/Qzygnytd6X

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 17, 2025

While storms have been forecast throughout the week in Sydney, Deamer is trusting warm weather to ensure the track stays firm for his son of Exceed And Excel.

Hard To Say has continued to impress since returning from the Sunshine State and is rated a $15 hope in the Southern Cross Stakes.

“I couldn’t be happier with him heading into it,” Deamer said.

“I gave him a nice little tick over gallop on Tuesday morning.

“Ash Morgan was on him, and was very happy with him.

“James McDonald will ride him on Saturday.”

James McDonald won last year’s Souther Cross Stakes on Lady Laguna. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Nominations for the Southern Cross Stakes were extended by 24 hours on Monday with Richard and Will Freedman taking advantage of the move by entering Coastwatch.

Coastwatch took out the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Sandown Lakeside last Saturday and was made a $15 chance in Southern Cross betting.

Accredited, the early odds-on favourite for last Saturday’s Listed Carrington Stakes before the race was abandoned, has shortened from $2.80 into $2.50 top pick to continue his winning run.

In-form trainer Bjorn Baker has four of the 13 nominations for the race with Disneck ($4.50), Iowna Merc ($9), Wategos ($15) and Sheznalister ($21).

Originally published as Trainer Jason Deamer enlists James McDonald as Hard To Say hunts Southern Cross Stakes breakthrough