Exclusive column: James McDonald previews Queen Elizabeth Stakes meeting on Day 2 of The Championships

Just like Nature Strip last week, champion jockey James McDonald trusts trainer Chris Waller will have Verry Elleegant at her best for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

James McDonald after winning the Chipping Norton Stakes aboard Verry Elleegant. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

The Queen Elizabeth is Verry Elleegant’s big dance, the build up to Saturday has been so similar to Nature Strip’s lead-up to last week’s TJ Smith Stakes and we all know what he did.

She went into the Ranvet off a hard race beforehand, a little dip in her form, and then had a big blow after the race.

That was exactly the same as Nature Strip.

A hard run against Home Affairs, a little lull and then three weeks into the big one and bang. It’s just copy and paste.

James McDonald shares a moment with Nature Strip after his third TJ Smith Stakes’ at Randwick last Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Chris Waller is the absolute master at getting the top-line older horses to peak on grand final day.

He knows these horses like the back of his hand, so she is going to be ready don’t worry about that.

The Verry Elleegant you saw in the Ranvet, that’s not the Verry Elleegant you are going to see at Randwick on Saturday.

I think you will see the best version of her this week and a win in the Queen Elizabeth would be so deserved for her.

She’s won some of the best races in the land, but this is Sydney’s biggest middle-distance race so she should have her name on the honour roll.

The conditions won’t be to her disadvantage, she’s got a lovely platform going into Saturday and she’s ready to produce a peak performance.

It’s as strong a race as I can remember over this sort of distance, every horse deserves to be in that race.

Verry Elleegant earlier this week at her Rosehill stables with strapper Rocky Mangat. Picture: John Feder

With the conditions they will be faced with on Saturday, I think Duais is the horse to beat ahead of Montefilia.

If it was firm ground Zaaki and Anamoe would be the two I fear the most but it’s not going to be dry.

If nothing else, the race is going to be a great spectacle and I can’t wait.

I’ll chase my first win in the Queen Of The Turf on Colette for James Cummings and, gee, she looks a nice ride.

She comes through the George Ryder, she defeated everything in that race except for Forbidden Love and she wasn’t disgraced in the Doncaster last week.

She’s well treated at the weights, the mile suits, wet ground suits, Randwick suits and James is as good as any when he sets one for a race and this is her grand final.

I think she will prove pretty hard to beat.

James McDonald says Colette is the one to beat in the Queen Of The Turf. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

My ride in the Australian Oaks is Pink Ivory.

I galloped her earlier in the week and I really loved what I felt. I think she’s terrific hope.

She gave me a wonderful feel of a horse that has stayer written all over the way she moved.

She’s the horse that comes out of the Vinery that was least suited on the shift to Newcastle which meant a shorter distance (2000m back to 1850m) and the drier track.

Up to 2400m on a real heavy surface, I think she comes right into play.

Sarge (John Sargent) knows the type of horse needed to win an Oaks and his words about this filly fills you with confidence.

He can’t want to see her go beyond 2000m and I’m going into Saturday with real belief in a good edition of the race.

I don’t have a ride in the Sydney Cup but if you gave me the choice, I’d be riding Stockman. He’s had a great build-up and will love the conditions.

Bella Nipotina is James McDonald’s his best ride of the day on Saturday. Picture: Pat Scala/Getty Images

I think my best ride of the day is in the last – Bella Nipotina in the Sapphire Stakes.

I chased this ride hard, she’ll be very hard to beat.

The only concern is she doesn’t win out of turn but she’s so well weighted under the conditions of the race, loves the heavy ground and her lead-up run in The Galaxy was great.

If she’s going to win a good race during the carnival – this is the race.

This is the last of my columns this autumn and I’ve really enjoyed sharing my thoughts and hope I’ve helped you find a winner or two along the way.

Originally published as Exclusive column: James McDonald previews Queen Elizabeth Stakes meeting on Day 2 of The Championships