Champion jockey James McDonald back for more glory with Switzerland in Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington
James McDonald is expecting a great clash between the three-year-olds in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes but says Switzerland has a crucial advantage among the colts.
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Champion jockey James McDonald cannot wait to be reunited with favourite Switzerland in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
McDonald piloted the Chris Waller star to an awesome three-length victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes last year on Derby Day.
Lightning rivals Growing Empire, second favourite on Saturday, finished third to Switzerland in the Coolmore, while the unplaced Traffic Warden failed to fire in the race.
McDonald has embraced the build-up and competition among the future stud colts but declared Switzerland the benchmark.
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“It’s going to be a big clash between the big three,” McDonald said ahead of his return to Flemington after another record Melbourne Cup carnival haul last year.
“In terms of three-year-olds it will be interesting to see who makes their mark.
“Traffic Warden is a very good horse on his day, the same with Growing Empire but one thing about Switzerland is he’s already gone and done it (won the Group 1) … the rest have got to come to his level.”
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McDonald surpassed his own record of 10 winners, set in 2021, with 11 Cup carnival wins last year, including four Group 1 triumphs.
McDonald rated Switzerland’s Coolmore demolition among the most memorable and equally justification for the Lightning Stakes bid.
“It’s doable if you’ve got the right three-year-old and he’s definitely capable,” McDonald said.
“If he runs to his best he’ll be fighting out the finish.”
McDonald won the Lightning on three-year-old colt-turned-star stallion Home Affairs in 2022.
Home Affairs was the first three-year-old to win the Lightning since Fastnet Rock in 2005.
Star filly Coolangatta then achieved the feat in 2023.
McDonald has done a lot of the work on Switzerland ahead of the Lightning and ducked into Melbourne last Friday week to ride the colt in a cruisy 800m jumpout at Flemington.
Switzerland finished last under a hold in the five-horse heat won by Traffic Warden.
“We’ll see if we can turn the tables,” McDonald said.
“He’s going really well … we’d expect a bold performance.”
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The 108-time Group 1-winner will depart Melbourne on Saturday night for Saudi Arabia ahead of the world’s richest race on February 22.
Hong Kong champion and 2023 Cox Plate-winner Romantic Warrior is favourite for the $31m Saudi Cup (1800m) at Riyadh.
And the first Group 1 of the 2024 #MelbCupCarnival goes to...
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SWITZERLAND for @mcacajamez and @cwallerracing ðŸ‘
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McDonald has won 11 stakes races on Romantic Warrior, including nine at the highest level in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and Dubai.
“He’s a phenomenal racehorse, nothing like I’ve ever come across,” McDonald said.
“He’s got a pretty big hurdle to cross here (dirt race first time), but if you’re going to go to war with anything it’s him.”
McDonald will swing by Hong Kong on the way home to ride favourite Voyage Bubble in the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on February 23.
Romantic Warrior won the Hong Kong Gold Cup last year.
McDonald has five rides at Flemington on Saturday including Brave Design in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) and Molly Bloom in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m).
Originally published as Champion jockey James McDonald back for more glory with Switzerland in Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington
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