Champion hoop James McDonald to return to the saddle for Saturday week’s Apollo Stakes meeting

James McDonald has declared he’ll be fit and firing for a return to the saddle for Saturday week’s all important Apollo Stakes meeting after missing this week with injury.

Champion jockey James McDonald.

Champion jockey James McDonald forfeited a full book of mounts at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting and won’t ride again this week due to a left foot injury he sustained at Rosehill last Saturday.

But McDonald vowed to be back riding next week and said he would “definitely be back in the saddle” for the crucial Apollo Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick on February 17.

McDonald was on Celerity when he injured his foot at the barriers just prior to the start of the Widden Stakes last weekend and was stood down from the rest of the meeting.

Sydney’s reigning premier jockey still flew to Hong Kong on Saturday night where he had five winless rides at the Sha Tin meeting on Sunday.

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McDonald said although he has been cleared of any broken bones, his left foot is now extremely bruised and swollen. He received specialist medical advice not to ride for the rest of this week.

“I don’t think going to Hong Kong was the problem, I wasn’t in that much pain when I rode there on Sunday,’’ McDonald said.

“But since I’ve been back home, the bruising and swelling in my foot has become much worse.

“I need to get the swelling down and it wouldn’t do me any good if I kept riding this week.

James McDonald has declared he’ll return to the saddle next week Picture: Jeremy Ng

“It’s disappointing, it’s another hiccup I didn’t need, but with a few days rest I will be right to ride again. I will definitely be back in the saddle next week.’’

McDonald said his early rides for the Randwick meeting on Saturday week include Fangirl in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes and Tiz Invincible in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.

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This is the second time McDonald has injured his left foot this season. He fractured bones in his foot in a fall on Wyong Cup Day last spring and missed nearly a month’s riding.

“I won’t need as long out as last time,’’ McDonald said.

“My foot is not broken this time, it’s just badly swollen and bruised.’’

McDonald, who has won five Sydney jockey titles in succession, has ridden 39 winners this season to be fourth on the premiership rankings behind Nash Rawiller on 48 winners.

Originally published as Champion hoop James McDonald to return to the saddle for Saturday week’s Apollo Stakes meeting