Billy Slater, James McDonald lead way as celebrities hit polo field on Gold Coast
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey James McDonald proved he could do it all, teaming with Billy Slater in a Gold Coast celebrity polo match.
James McDonald proved he could do it all on Sunday as the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey saddled up for a celebrity polo match at the Southport Spit.
The 30-year-old joined retired NRL star Billy Slater, Group One winning horse trainer Annabel Neasham and polo champ Jack Archibald on a winning team in front of a playful Gold Coast crowd.
“I’ve had a couple of goes before (playing polo). It’s been interesting,” McDonald joked before the match.
Asked if his life had changed since November when he rode Verry Elleegant to victory at Flemington, McDonald said it was “same old”.
“I’ve still got to turn up to the track each week,” he said.
After a week of rainy, windy weather, the blue sky crept out on Sunday morning and by the time a crowd of 3000 made its way to Doug Jennings park at Southport the main concern was finding shade from the blazing sun.
It was under the blue sky that eager horse lovers mixed with the racing industry’s stars and some of the country’s finest polo players to watch the battle on the polo pitch.
Not used to losing, McDonald opening the scoring.
The goal drew more excitement than usual when horse trainer David Eustace, filling in for jockey Hugh Bowman, sailed over the neck of his horse and into the turf.
Eustace quickly dusted himself off and rejoined the action alongside his teammates – trainer Ciaron Maher, polo pro Alec White and McDonald’s girlfriend, former jockey turned TV presenter Kate Mallyon, who returned to the Magic Millions polo pitch for the third time.
“It’s so good seeing everyone back today,” Mallyon said, referring to last year’s Covid-forced cancellation.
An experienced rider who won the gruelling 1000km Mongol Derby endurance equestrian race in 2018, trainer Neasham joked that the polo was “definitely more complicated”.
Slater’s positioning on the field was his key strength, but his aim appeared a little off when he missed four shots at goal.
It was fifth time lucky though as he cracked the ball through the posts to give his team a 4-2 victory.
For the first time, the polo day included junior and senior showjumping competitions with a total prize pool of $100,000.
The all-women Team Godolphin took out the showjumping after the event came down to the wire, requiring a perfect final round to retain the lead ahead of teams sponsored by Audi and the Outback Spectacular.
The regular glitz and glamour associated with any Magic Millions event was still there, although some of the international stars who usually grace the marquees – including the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall and Argentinian polo superstar Nacho Figueras – were unable to make it this year because of the pandemic.
Local celebrities kept up the star power, with the cream of the Australian horseracing industry gathered on the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions sales this week, to be capped off with the race day at Aquis Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday. They will be on the hunt for the next big thing in Australian racing as this year’s crop of yearlings go under the hammer in the sales ring from Tuesday.
From next year, the Magic Millions race day would gain two new races and a $1.5m prizemoney boost, Magic Millions manager Barry Bowditch said.
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