Rosehill inside mail: Punters jump on James McDonald mounts not matter how short they are

Punters will be getting behind James McDonald again at Rosehill, particularly with boom filly Lady Shenandoah, and they don’t mind taking shorter odds.

Punters are prepared to “cop the J-Mac tax” to be with the champion jockey James McDonald at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The so-called “J-Mac tax” is essentially where punters are taking shorter odds because McDonald is in the saddle.

But TAB’s Tim Ryan said punters always rally for McDonald’s rides on race day.

• 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!

“Most of James McDonald’s rides will be very firm or shorten in betting,’’ Ryan said.

“The punters are happy to pay the ‘J-Mac tax’ but I don’t necessarily believe they are taking unders.

“If you think back to Randwick a couple of weeks ago, McDonald’s rides on Via Sistina, Lady Shenandoah and Spring Lee were inch perfect.

“Even his win on Amelia’s Jewel was very good because he took the mare to the front and dictated the pace of the race.

“I don’t know if those four horses all win with any other jockey on them.

“McDonald is often the difference between winning and losing on the day.’’

Punters will be getting behind McDonald again at Rosehill particularly with boom filly Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Classic (1500m).

Lady Shenandoah, who is unbeaten in four starts this season including two at Group 1 level, has firmed form $2.80 into $2.25 on TAB to become the first three-year-old filly to win the Coolmore since 2009.

McDonald is also riding favourites Declichy Boulevard ($3.20) in the Group 2 $300,000 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and promising filly Harlem Queen ($3.60) in the closer, the Quayclean Handicap (1400m).

The champion jockey, who leads the Sydney premiership with 64 wins and is 15 clear of nearest rival Zac Lloyd, has a strong book of seven rides including Godolphin’s classy Pericles ($5.50) in the Group 2 $300,000 Ajax Stakes (1500m).

• Ray and Duff’s tips, analysis for Randwick

BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

RACE 1: Huon $11-$6.50

RACE 2: King Of Thunder $4.60-$4.20, Hurstville Zagreb $4.60-$4.40 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $5/$1.95, Perfect Play $8-$5

RACE 3: Skyhook $4.60-$4, Kilman $15-$10

RACE 4: Strada Varenna $3.60-$2.80, Artistic Venture $4.60-$4

RACE 5: Lindermann $2.30-$2.20, Land Legend $8-$5.50, Kinesiology $15-$10

RACE 6: Delichy Boulevard $4.60-$3.20, Lazzura $4.60-$3.40, Wonder Boy $11-$5, More Territories $15-$10

RACE 7: Pisanello $3.60-$3.30

RACE 8: Lady Shenandoah $2.80-$2.25 with a bet of $4500 the place at $1.40, Lady Of Camelot $8-$7, Coeur Volante $11-$9.50

RACE 9: Ducasse $4.60-$4.40-$4.60 with a bet of $5000 e/w at $5.50/$2, Iowna Merc $8-$5, Pericles $6-$5.50

RACE 10: Harlem Queen $3.60-$3.30-$3.60, Glint Of Silver $26-$10

James McDonald on Coolmore Classic favourite Lady Shenandoah. Picture: Getty Images

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 1, 2, 4, 10

Race 4: 1, 2, 5

Race 5: 1, 2

Race 6: 8, 9, 11, 12

QUADDIE

Race 7: 2, 3, 7, 11

Race 8: 1, 4, 6

Race 9: 1, 2, 9, 11

Race 10: 9, 12, 13

PRICE CHECK

Ducasse (race 9) is firm in TAB betting at $4.60 despite some solid support including big bet of $5000 e/w at $5.50/$2. Lady Of Shenandoah (race 8) continues to firm in betting from $2.80 to $2.25 favouritism for the Coolmore Classic including a bet of $4500 the place at $1.40.

Ducasse wins the battle at Rosehill first up! 💪@clarkyhk | @MFreedmanRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/3HSYDYjUut

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

TRIAL POINTERS

Felix Majestic (race 7) looked very sharp winning a Warwick Farm 792m barrier trial by more than four lengths from the classy Coal Crusher. Felix Majestic ran his final 600m in a very fast 32.31sec. Underrated sprinter who was stakes placed twice last spring and is at generous odds of $15 for his comeback in the Maurice McCarten Stakes.

Harlem Queen (race 10) is a talented filly who ran second to Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 Flight Stakes last spring. She was spelled after finishing fourth in the VRC Oaks. Harlem Queen has had two barrier trials to prepare for her return and she caught the eye chasing home boom sprinter Private Harry in a Newcastle 900m heat last week.

SECTIONAL STARS

An interesting comparison can be made between the last start wins of Coolmore Classic rivals (race 8) Lady Shenandoah and Amelia’s Jewel over the Randwick 1400m course on March 1. Lady Shenandoah stopped the clock at a very fast 1min 20.56sec to beat Lady Of Camelot, recording 33.71sec for her final 600m. Amelia’s Jewel led throughout to win the Guy Walter Stakes easily in a much slower 1min 23.47sec but her closing sectionals were very impressive as she sprinted home her final 600m in a brilliant 32.93sec with a 200m split of 10.86sec as raced away from her rivals.

Amelia's Jewel is back in the winner's circle after leading all the way in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes! 🎉@mcacajamez | @ANeashamRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/YE2ERRQBkU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 1, 2025

Skyhook (race 4) was unlucky in the Skyline Stakes. He was held up for a run at the top of the straight then dashed home along the rail to finish second behind Rivellino. Skyhook ran his final 600m in 33.45sec and powered home his closing 200m sectional in an impressive 10.95sec.

BEST BET

Pisanello (race 7) is a promising sprinter from the James Cummings stable returning after an undefeated three-start spring campaign that included an impressive win at Flemington during Cup Week and a Kembla Grange win over 1000m in a tick over 56sec. His first-up win at Warwick Farm last spring was also very good. The Godolphin gelding is building an impressive record with five wins from 11 starts and his recent barrier trial effort suggests he is primed for a first-up win.

JMac makes it a record 11 wins across the Melbourne Cup Carnival riding Pisanello home in the last, the World Horse Racing Grand Handicap.

🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/98LqL1D58L

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2024

VALUE BET

Tenderize (race 1) won only once in his first 23 starts but he’s struck a rich vein of form this autumn with all-the-way wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm at his past two outings, the latter a dominant effort. His confidence is high, the claim helps and he will be in this for a long way. Good value around $6.

Originally published as Rosehill inside mail: Punters jump on James McDonald mounts not matter how short they are