At The Track: James McDonald grilled over ride on Threeood at Randwick
Racing NSW chief stewrad Marc Van Gestel didn’t hold back in his assessment of champion jockey James McDonald’s ride on race favourite Threeood at Royal Randwick.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Chief steward Marc Van Gestel accused star jockey James McDonald of being “half-hearted” on $2.90 favourite Threeood in the sixth race at Royal Randwick after she ran ninth.
Steward Wade Birch didn’t feel McDonald was at his best on Threeood over the final 300m. McDonald said he “wasn’t going that well”.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
“You just seem half-hearted on it,” Van Gestel said.
Threeood was never travelling in the run but did pick up late to hit the line well.
McDonald thought he’d be in the box seat but his mount had other ideas as she looked gone a long way out from home.
Stella Sea Sun gives @Leesracing a double at @royalrandwick as she takes out R6 with a great ride from Jason Collett pic.twitter.com/G73J1n9veU
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 20, 2020
“I tried holding a position and it just got worse and worse and she didn’t want a bar of it. She just plodded today,” McDonald said. “I just couldn’t hold a spot and the horse wasn’t travelling.”
Considering how she travelled, McDonald was worried something might be wrong with her in the run. Stewards brought trainer Joe Pride in to get his thoughts.
“I gave up on her to be honest,” he said.
Van Gestel asked if the horse was there to win and Pride said “yes” straight away.
The inquiry into the ride was adjourned by stewards.
Prestige, peanuts don’t pay the bills
This column defended the decision not to take Winx to Royal Ascot last year but when an Uber driver this week found out I was in the racing industry all he wanted to tell me was that she should have gone to the UK “for the prestige”.
The Caulfield Cup is a prestigious race but more was invested on the third running of The Everest last year on the same day. Only people who don’t own a horse would tell others to send their horse to the other side of the world to race for peanuts compared to what races in our backyard are worth.
British hoop Tom Marquand pointed out that Addeybb won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes this year in quicker time than when Winx won it in 2017, despite running on a wetter track. But times are the most useless and overrated thing to look at in racing.
One of Sydney’s leading trainers told At the Track that speed maps are another thing that we shouldn’t care much about.
Rodeo fears
Nash Rawiller said he had concerns that Starspangled Rodeo might have been having a heart attack in the eighth race at Royal Randwick when he ran a distant last. “I was really concerned. He felt like jelly,” he said.
Coronavirus spike
There’s been an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria and it’s understandable that a few down south have begun to worry if racing could be impacted if the situation continues to escalate. Victoria chief health officer Brett Sutton said on Saturday the state was “absolutely at risk of a second peak”. There’s no doubt that as society gets complacent that cases will rise so racing needs to continue to be strict in its biosecurity measures. Social distancing was in full swing at Randwick on Saturday. This is a close as the press could get to trainer Michael Hawkes.
Star’s struggles
Star Of Harada ($6) pulled up 2/5 lame in the off fore after his eighth placing at Randwick and trainer Wendy Roche said he pulled up lame at his previous two wins leading into the race. “It’s just been the norm for him,” she told stewards. “He pulls up like that after every start.” Roche was charged, however, for not reporting concussion plates, which were put on before the race. She was fined $1000.
Shark on mend
It was good to hear Kiwi star Te Akau Shark came through his eye surgery with no complications.
We are pleased to share the news that Te Akau Shark’s eye surgery took place yesterday & was very straightforward with no complications. He recovered from the anaesthesia without any issues & is happy within himself. We & his owners send huge thanks for the messages & well-wishes pic.twitter.com/14U1FhCAsH
— Te Akau Racing (@TeAkauRacing) June 19, 2020
Flying solo
The youngest of the Freedman clan, William, announced on Saturday that he has taken out a trainer’s license and will set up at Scone. “It’s a big step, but one I’m going to enjoy,” he said. “I’ll have 20 boxes with ¼ acre yards, my own sand track, water walker and treadmill.”
*****
Speaking of water walkers, Team Hawkes came to the rescue and allowed Chris Waller to use theirs after his broke during the week.
Cop the tip ...
Albury trainer Mitchell Beer is always making a joke or a good point on Twitter and he did it again this week when tweeting “Tipped to my subscribers is the most 2020 sentence ever”. We agree. It’s annoying to read a tipster rapping themselves on social media whenever they tip a winner. It’s embarrassing.
Home sweet home
Golden Slipper winner Farnan came back to Tulloch Lodge on Saturday ahead of his spring carnival and got straight into his box and had a nap. Seems like calm colt and we know how professional he is.
Popa’s stocks rise
Following his win at Randwick over 2000m, Mount Popa was inserted into the betting for The Metropolitan (2400m) as a $15 hope and at $51 for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. The punter who had $20,000 on him at $3.30 on Saturday would no doubt feel he owes them nothing now. Front Page is now the second favourite for The Kosciuszko behind Snitz after his win at Flemington.
HORSES TO FOLLOW: Bad Boy For Love (due a change of luck) Mount Popa (can only get better) Monte Ditto (knocking on the door)
ONES TO SACK: Southern Lad (surely punters will stop backing him now) Convinced (falls short again)
RIDE OF THE DAY: Jason Collett on Stella Sea Sun (did it from a tough barrier)
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I hope he’s as good as Master Of Wine,” said Tommy Berry after new stablemate Mount Popa’s win.
Beadman happy to help J-Mac get even better
James McDonald didn’t need any reminding who the last jockey was to ride at least 100 winners in successive Sydney seasons.
“It was Darren Beadman,’’ McDonald said. “He used to ride 160 bloody winners a season — I don’t know how he did it.’’
When Beadman was dominating Sydney racing, he made riding a century of Sydney winners each year seem routine. The Hall of Fame jockey achieved the feat in five successive seasons from 2002-03 to 2006-07, culminating with his all-time record of 164 Sydney wins.
It’s easy to forget how good Beadman was in his prime and perhaps his achievements weren’t fully appreciated when he was riding because it was just expected of him. But in the fullness of time, the significance and enormity of Beadman’s riding records are only enhanced.
Until McDonald rode 104 winners last season, no jockey had ridden a century of city winners since Beadman. And McDonald is about to break the 100-win barrier again. He has already ridden 96.5 for the season, but failed to add to his haul at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The jockey punters call “J-Mac” has virtually secured a second successive Sydney jockeys’ premiership but, with only 12 city meetings remaining this season, he is going to fall well short of Beadman’s benchmark.
“I just don’t know how ‘The Dazzler’ rode so many winners, it’s just incredible,’’ McDonald said. “That’s why he is the best by a country mile.’’
Beadman left to ride in Hong Kong in 2007-08, the same season a youthful McDonald began his apprenticeship in New Zealand.
All these years later, the two men are working closely together, with McDonald doing a lot of riding for the Godolphin stables where Beadman is right-hand man to trainer James Cummings.
McDonald regularly seeks Beadman’s counsel about his riding and it is obvious the two men share a close relationship.
“James often asks me how I rode 164 winners,’’ Beadman said. “At the start of every season, I’ve said to him, ‘are you going to try for the record?’
“He gets to six months into the season, he has about 50 wins and I say to him you are not even halfway and he replies: ‘But I’m riding my backside off, mate.”
McDonald said the friendly banter with Beadman never stops.
“Every time I ride a winner, ‘Daz’ will say: ‘You are getting closer, keep going’.
“I’m nowhere near his record. I don’t know how anyone could break his record.’’
The competitive nature of the Sydney riding scene does make it difficult for any jockey to continually dominate in the modern era — although the riding ranks were similarly strong when Beadman was king.
Beadman did have the backing of the all-conquering John Hawkes stable during the period when he broke the Sydney riding record in three successive seasons — 143 wins (2004-05), 152 (2005-06), before his amazing 164-win haul (2006-07).
But he never stopped trying to improve his riding.
“I concentrated on trying to better myself every year,’’ Beadman said. “So, I set out to beat my mark the previous season and that kept me focused.’’
McDonald is adopting a similar attitude, always looking for ways to improve his riding and using Beadman’s experience and knowledge as a primary resource.
“I talk to The Dazzler all the time about my riding,’’ McDonald said. “He always gives me an honest opinion, he doesn’t try to sugar-coat things, which I like. Sometimes he will say I’m doing too much there or I’m being too hard on myself. He is a great help.
“I’m in a fortunate position to have a wonderful opportunity to bounce ideas off arguably the greatest jockey who has ever ridden on the Australian turf.’’
Beadman rode for more than 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge he’s willing to share, even to champion jockeys like McDonald.
“James has asked me many times to help him with his rides and that’s very humbling to me,’’ Beadman said. “But I think it’s a feather in his cap that he is always trying to improve himself and he is willing to come to me and ask: ‘What do you think about this ride, Daz?’
“If I see him do something on a horse, I will give him some feedback about what he did and if he could have done anything differently.
“I would do that for anyone that asks, we are always learning in this business.’’
Beadman believes McDonald’s competitive nature combined with his obvious natural riding skills are propelling the jockey to another century of Sydney wins.
“James makes less mistakes than others and he is so very competitive — he wins more tight finishes than he loses,’’ Beadman said. “When his weight is good, and he’s fit and focused, he’s the complete package.’’
McDonald might have another Sydney premiership in the bag and can bring up a century of city wins as soon as Saturday. But he gave a revealing insight into his professional mindset and why there is no room for complacency.
“Any of the top 20 jockeys in Sydney are as good as each other. You can throw the colours into the jockeys’ room and be happy whoever rides for you,’’ he said.
“You can’t afford to have an off day in Sydney racing. What’s the old saying, ‘don’t give a sucker an even break’. So, self-pride kicks in, you don’t want to fail so I approach every meeting like it’s a big meeting.
“I go there to give my horses every possible chance and I don’t want to let my connections or the punters down.’’
Slipper king to follow golden path to Everest
Golden Slipper winner Farnan has returned to Tulloch Lodge on Monday to begin preparations for the $15 million The TAB Everest during the Sydney spring carnival.
Farnan spelled at owner Aquis Stud’s Queensland property after his dominant juvenile season which included brilliant wins in the Silver Slipper Stakes, Todman Stakes and Golden Slipper.
Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said it was a deliberate decision to send Farnan interstate to spell.
“Aquis has a magnificent property in Queensland and they also have the facilities to put horses back into pre-training,’’ Bott said.
“Farnan has done this three times now – before he came to us for his debut race preparation then after his Magic Millions campaign and again following his Slipper win.
“It’s a system that works well with Farnan and he’s had four weeks of pre-training so we are looking forward to getting him back into work at Randwick on Monday.’’
Bott said Farnan will be aimed at the $1 million Golden Rose (Rosehill, September 28) and then the $15 million The TAB Everest (Randwick, October 17). Aquis, which owns Farnan, holds a slot for The Everest.
“Yes Yes Yes ran in these races last year and showed a three-year-old can win The Everest,’’ Bott said.
Farnan is certain to be voted champion two-year-old for 2019-20 after winning five of his six starts, including his outstanding Golden Slipper triumph to earn a lofty Timeform rating of 122.
Rothfire earned a Timeform rating of 117 to be equal second with Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa, while King’s Legacy, the only dual Group 1 winner of his generation, is on 116.
Bott also revealed top mare Con Te Partiro, winner of the Coolmore Classic-Queen of the Turf Stakes Group 1 double during the Sydney autumn carnival, has returned to training ahead of a possible US Breeders Cup campaign later this year.
“Con Te Partiro looks in great order and we are getting her ready for three Group 1 races in Sydney during the spring, the Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes and Epsom Handicap,’’ Bott said. “Then our long-term ambition is to take her to America for the Breeders Cup.’’