Jockey James MacDonald likes Delectation’s chances in Doomben 10,000

JAMES McDonald believes there may be a chink in the armour of Winter Carnival glamour girl Azkadellia in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000.

James McDonald celebrates winning the Darley Classic on Delectation.

JAMES McDonald has spotted a chink in the armour of Winter Carnival glamour girl Azkadellia in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000.

The leading Sydney jockey is hoping to expose that weakness when he rides Delectation, insisting Chris Waller’s sprinter is “in the race up to his ears’’.

“I give Delectation a really good chance in the 10,000,’’ McDonald said. “Azkadellia has had a let-up and I would have thought she would be peaking for the Stradbroke rather than the 10,000.’’

James McDonald celebrates after winning the Darley Classic on Delectation.

Delectation has been hot and cold this season and it has been seven months since he beat Chautauqua in the Group 1 Darley Classic at Flemington last November.

Ever since he rode Delectation to a Randwick trial win earlier this month, McDonald has been convinced the run-on gelding is back on song.

Delectation was one of the eye-catchers of the recent Group 1 BTC Cup, charging home from last before being held up on heels late in the race.

McDonald, whose mounts have won more than $40 million in the past three seasons, thinks Delectation is peaking at just the right time.

“I think he has a real sense of timing about him and he is in this race up to his ears,’’ McDonald said.

“Right from the moment when I trialled him in Sydney, I thought he was back on track.

“His last run was very unlucky and if he gets any bit of luck in the 10,000, he will be very hard to hold out.’’

Bookmaker tab.com.au says Delectation has been one of the best backed 10,000 runners, firming from $6 into $5 after the final field was declared this week.

McDonald has five rides for his Godolphin employers at Doomben tomorrow, including the favourites in the Glenlogan Park Stakes (Ghisoni) and Sires Produce (Souchez).

Although John O’Shea decided to keep Ghisoni against her own sex, McDonald believes the filly would have been hard to beat if she had have run in the Doomben 10,000.

“She is a good filly and has the makings of an extremely good four-year-old mare,’’ McDonald said.

“We are poking along quietly with her because the Melbourne Spring is certainly in mind.’’

McDonald feels Souchez, who produced a terrific closing burst when third to Winning Rupert in the Champagne Classic, is the class colt of the Sires’ field.

“He is a lovely colt who is only going to get better, and stepping up to the distance of the Sires certainly enhances his chances,’’ he said.

Originally published as Jockey James MacDonald likes Delectation’s chances in Doomben 10,000