James McDonald is poised to play a strong hand in trio of Group 1 races at Flemington on Derby Day

Champion hoop James McDonald is set to play a leading hand in the three showpiece group 1 events at Flemington on Derby Day.

Superstar jockey James McDonald might have lost his Melbourne Cup ride but he has a very real chance of reeling off a Group 1 hat-trick on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.

McDonald learned earlier this week that his runaway Cox Plate winner Via Sistina won’t back-up in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup and instead will be aimed at the Champions Stakes on the final day of the Cup Carnival next week.

But after riding his 100th Group 1 winner on Via Sistina last week, McDonald is hungry for more majors on Saturday.

McDonald rides crack colt Switzerland in the $2m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), King Of Thunder in the $2m Victoria Derby (2500m) and Atishu in the $1m Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

The Chris Waller-trained Switzerland is raced by Coolmore who are keen to repeat their success in the feature three-year-old sprint they had with Home Affairs three years ago.

“Switzerland’s win in the Roman Consul Stakes last start was the race he needed,’’ McDonald said.

James McDonald celebrates Via Sistina’s emphatic victory in the Cox Plate Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“The win will give him a bit of confidence as he won by two lengths running away.

“They decided to miss The Everest which I think is a great thing for him as he has been targeted for this race.’’

McDonald partnered Switzerland in a trial down the Flemington straight a week ago which has the young sprinter primed for Saturday’s race.

“If you had said to me six months ago that this horse was a straight horse I would have said I’d prefer him around a bend,’’ he said.

“But I thought he went great in the trial, he felt really, really good and he’s going to be hard to beat on Saturday.’’

McDonald won his first Victoria Derby on the ill-fated Riff Rocket last year and is bullish about King Of Thunder’s chances in the three-year-old classic.

“King Of Thunder goes very well and I thought he was super last week (third in The Vase at The Valley),’’ he said.

“He will stay all day and I would love to win the Derby for John (O’Shea) and Tom (Charlton).’’

Atishu, a stablemate of Switzerland, has a great record during the Cup Carnival and won the Champions Stakes after finishing second in the Empire Stakes last year.

“She loves Flemington and loves this week – this is her chance to shine,’’ McDonald said.

Originally published as James McDonald is poised to play a strong hand in trio of Group 1 races at Flemington on Derby Day