Running on fear: Star jockey hits turf, Cox Plate runner gallops free in Moonee Valley mishap

James McDonald must be feeling like he has been hit by a group 1 curse.

The super hoop could be stuck in the nervous 90s for another week after his Cox Plate ride Via Sistina threw him onto the Moonee Valley turf on Tuesday morning and ran four exhausting laps before being caught by connections. McDonald was not hurt.

James McDonald hits the turf after being unseated from Via Sistina during trackwork at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.Credit: Getty Images

Trainer Chris Waller walked his mare from the course after the mishap in what was a dramatic build up to the announcement of Saturday’s $5 million weight-for-age field.

McDonald has been stuck on 99 career group 1 victories for the past month, having fallen short on three big race days across three weekends. That stretch is now in danger of extending further.

Despite the scare, Via Sistina was announced as part of the nine-horse Cox Plate field by Moonee Valley chairman Adam Lennen on Tuesday morning – Mr Brightside (barrier 2), Prognosis (5), Kovalica (9), Royal Patronage (3), Docklands (1), Pride Of Jenni (7), Via Sistina (4), Broadsiding (8) and Evaporate (6).

Waller will wait until Saturday morning before making a final decision on whether Via Sistina has recovered suitably from her unscheduled heavy workout.

As he explained to the media how the incident had unfolded, the relieved trainer said his seven-year-old mare had emerged injury free.

“A bandage has come loose. She stood on the bandage and a piece of gear has broken and she sort of tripped and that piece of gear has got caught up in her back legs and that’s given her a fright,” Waller said.

“She’s run on fear for a couple of laps and, fortunately, there was a clerk of the course out there and picked the horse up and she settled back down again.

“She doesn’t have a hair missing. There’s no blood, she’s taken no skin off. We’ve had our vet look at her and a Racing Victoria vet look over her thoroughly and I can’t believe it.”

Via Sistina charges around the course - running “on fear” in the words of her trainer Chris Waller - without McDonald.Credit: Getty Images

The resilient McDonald bounced straight back after the fall to partner Waller’s Kovalica in a track gallop soon after.

“I’ve got a little bit of a sore shoulder as you’d probably expect falling that way, not too bad, could’ve been a lot worse,” McDonald said.

Waller said there were two positives to take out of the eventful morning, both jockey and horse had emerged unscathed.

Waller (left) helps bring Via Sistina in for a rest after her unscheduled heavy workout.Credit: Getty Images

“When we saw James dislodged, we thought the worst,” the trainer said. “When a horse stumbles it is never a good look. But James got up, and she kept running so that was good. Two success stories. The rest of it was bad.

“Her heart rate came back down quickly, a bit slower than a normal gallop. She’s had a nice walk and a good drink. Nearly a whole bucket of water. She’s had a nice hose – not quite an ice bath – but a hose.

“While its disappointing, I’m just so grateful that the horse is 100 per cent.”

The Waller stable will alter Via Sistina’s preparation for the remainder of the week. She will be sent to the beach on Wednesday and have a quiet canter on Thursday instead of a gallop.

“We will just keep her normal, keep her routine simple, and look out for signs that she is not happy,” Waller said.

“She ran along at a pace that she was comfortable with (after dislodging McDonald) – probably ran on a bit of fear for the first lap – but without 60kg on her back, it was certainly a bit easier.”

McDonald chalked up his 99th group 1 win on Broadsiding in the Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday, September 28 - AFL grand final day.

He has since had group 1 rides across the past three weeks without chalking up the magical ton.

Despite the setback, at 32, he is poised to become the fastest jockey in Australian to chalk up 100 group 1 wins.

The century club includes Jimmy Cassidy, Hugh Bowman, George Moore and Damien Oliver.

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