Latest news with #James McDonald
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
James McDonald edges out apprentice Siena Grima on Amusing in a two-horse slugfest at Rosehill
Emerging apprentice Siena Grima got a front-row seat as the world's best jockey James McDonald showed his experience to lift Amusing to a narrow win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Grima ensured McDonald was forced to endure a few nervous moments after launching her challenge on Chris Waller-trained stablemate Travolta. The duo paired off in the straight to fight out a thrilling finish to the Rosehill Bowling Club Benchmark 78 Handicap (1900m). Travolta headed Amusing inside the furlong pole but McDonald's decision to switch whip hands proved key as his mare lifted late to score. 'I definitely put a bit of worry into him (McDonald),' Grima said. 'When he saw me staying up next to him, it was a massive effort from the horse, he ran super and Mr Waller was happy so that's all I can ask.' Grima had already had a week to remember with the Tamworth-based rider snaring her maiden Sydney city winner on the Waller-trained Tazima at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday. Waller was more than happy to put the young hoop back on another of his key chances and Grima made the most of her opportunity when locking horns with Sydney's nine-time premiership winning jockey. Amusing ($3.40 favourite) edged out Travolta ($4) by a long head with Stirling Osland's So You Are ($9.50) two lengths away in third. 'It was a good determined finish from both riders,' Waller said. 'They got close but kept at it. 'Siena rode her horse very well and saved all the ground but I just think it showed with fitness with James' horse Amusing. 'She is a tough horse and you could see she really wanted to win the race so I think she is on the right path to black type.' McDonald felt Amusing's victory had added merit after the mare had over-raced in the early stages. 'She pulled so hard the first 1000m so she's done a really good job,' he said. 'When I needed a bit more late, she dug deep and found it for me. She is a lovely mare.' Amusing gave Waller his first winner for Godolphin when the mare won at the same venue over 1500m at the first metropolitan meeting of the new season earlier this month. The classy daughter of Masar has now put together three straight victories with Waller now set to consider a stakes assignment. 'After her last win I was thinking about the Aspiration and the Epona in the autumn but after today do you look at a race like the Wyong Cup?' Waller said. 'While the other horses are still getting fit, she is rock hard fit. 'The 2100m will be no problem, we just have to get her to settle a little bit better.' It was McDonald's turn to be narrowly denied shortly after when the Bjorn Baker-trained War Eternal ($2.60 favourite) got the better of Birdman ($5.50) in the Captivant Kia Ora Handicap (1400m). An incisive ride from Jason Collett helped War Eternal slice his way through the pack with his race fitness proving crucial late as he held off the challenge of Waller's Birdman while Land Legend produced a flashing light run to scorch home from the back for third. 'He deserved that,' Baker's racing manager Luke Hilton said. 'He has been racing really well this preparation and is a good old campaigner. 'Last prep he won third-up and he's done the same this prep with Jason Collett on.' War Eternal's latest success could encourage the Baker yard to give the talented son of Pierro another crack at stakes grade as the spring carnival prepares to heat up. 'He is a seven-year-old so he is probably at the top of his game at the moment but there might be not as strong of a Listed or stakes race that we can find for him,' Hilton said.
News.com.au
11-08-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury and Muswellbrook on Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Hawkesbury on Tuesday plus his tips for Muswellbrook. Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Hawkesbury on Tuesday plus his tips for Muswellbrook. â– â– â– â– â– HAWKESBURY TIPS BEST BET Race 3 No.1 PATISSIER: Proisir relation to King Mufhasa who has it all ahead of him. Talented type. NEXT BEST Race 5 No.3 VAILILEE: Trialled like a bomb before a booming debut win. Harder here but goes well. VALUE Race 7 No.7 DALIO: Fit and ready for the step to 1800m from a good draw with a good rider. QUADDIE Race 4: 2,5,14 Race 5: 3 Race 6: 1,3,4,6 Race 7: 3,7 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW James McDonald is here to ride NZ Derby placegetter Golden Century (race four). LAY OF THE DAY Race 7 No.2 THIS IS THE MOMENT: In-form racehorse from the in-form stable in NSW at present but has some stiff competition here from horses crying out for 1800m. HAWKESBURY INSIDE MAIL WHERE'S MY HALO (13) was bred by Emancipation's trainer Neville Begg and is trained by Emancipation's jockey Ron Quinton. This now four-year-old mare turned in a very solid and encouraging debut here back on Feb 20. Trialled twice, won the last one – well! HURRY MISS (9) has the race fitness advantage and more to the point, she was a close second to a really nice horse (Patissier, see race 3) first-up. HARRY'S EVIDENCE (7) will be on-speed and can stick on for a medal. SHARE THE JOY (11) is just so consistent. BET: WHERE'S MY HALO (13) each-way, quinella 9,13. BANKNOTE HUSTLER (11) has drawn wide here but copped 11 of 11 on the Kensington track on Wednesday. He's by Capitalist out of the stakes-winner and Group 1 runner-up Torvil. Only two runs so far were in the Lonhro Plate and Todman. Trialling like a bomb! OHOPE (3) could be saved for the Kensington meeting; goes close surely wherever he fronts-up. YOU'RE THE CHOICE (7) was well beaten first-up at Gosford but beaten a potentially outstanding horse namely Valillee (see race five). COSMIC EAGLE (9) only has to do what she has been doing to figure again. BET: BANKNOTE HUSTLER (11) to win. PATISSIER (1) was born at Rich Hill Stud in NZ where his father, Proisir, stands. This is also the Rich Hill Stud family that delivered the 11-times Group 1 winner King Mufhasa. Same family as Kovalica too. Patissier was trialling well ahead of his really determined win at Kembla, beating the aforementioned Hurry Miss. EXCEED PERFECTION (3) has only managed one win from 17 starts but he has placed eight times and six of them are seconds. Very fit, probably leads, and has some decent Heavy track stats. AFFERMATO (2) was really warming to the task late over 1300m first-up at Kembla. BET: PATISSIER (1) to win or of scratched, AFFERMATO (2) each-way. GOLDEN CENTURY (2) is $101 to win the Caulfield Cup, now that would get you a few dims sums down at the restaurant of the same name down at the Crown these days! This is the former Tony Pike-trained gelding's first run for Chris Waller and his first since he ran 7th of 18 in our Derby, having run 3rd of 16 in the NZ Derby. The trials? Wow. MOUNTAIN QUEEN (14) is a Matthew Smith-trained filly by his former dual G1 winner Fierce Impact. Family of Horlicks and Brew too. Wouldn't be shocked to see this one in a Guineas or Oaks in 2025/26. BET: GOLDEN CENTURY (2) to win, exacta/quinella 2,14. VAILILEE (3) is, for want of no better word, untapped. The now five-year-old won a trial here by 11-lengths on July 7 then went to Gosford 12 days later and won by four, eased down. Drawn 4, same jockey (Mitchell Bell). Being an Adelaide, (I) would back him in to handle it wet but he's still got to do it. VANLEE (6) 's record at this track and distance is two starts for a close second and a half-length win. CHEEKY SMIRK (7) was impressive and emphatic when he won here on debut over 1100m. BET: VAILILEE (3) to win, exacta 3 to beat 6, Daily Double 1st leg 3, 2nd Leg 7. OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (4) is an acceptor for the Queen of the Valley Matchmaker at Muswellbrook. This is a harder race but she has a few things in her favour, not least barrier 2 and a whole lot of talent. COMMANDING BELLE (6) was a 'commanding' winner at Kembla second-up. Runner-up there nine days later but ran through the line with real purpose. Ditto that and then some for ALFRED (3) who has clearly come back in great order this time in. BET: OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (4) to win or if scratched Commanding Belle to win. DALIO (7) is a horse you could easily imagine walking around the parade ring at Pimlico or Santa Anita, given he is by American Pharoah out of a Grade 1 Natalma Stakes-winning mare. He's also in-bred to Storm Cat but I digress because what matters most is that handles the Heavy, he is in great shape, he is at a trip he will relish and he has the draw and the jockey to convert. SUNSET PARK (3) hasn't put a foot wrong in her five starts and has won here over 2000m so she's itching to get out in trip again. BET: DALIO (7) to win. â– â– â– â– â–
The Australian
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
‘I'm still improving': James McDonald reveals his relentless pursuit of riding perfection
James McDonald, the most dominant jockey in Sydney and Australian racing, maintains he is still to reach his riding peak. 'There's always room for improvement, without a doubt,'' McDonald said. 'I'm tweaking a few things this year, trying some different ideas to see if they work, trying to get a bit more out of my body. 'I'm good friends with a lot of sports people and I like to get their ideas, maybe more so in preparation, to see if I can improve physically and get better. 'Obviously, not every piece of information that comes your way is right for you but until you try it, then you don't know if it works.'' • 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! McDonald has ridden more than 2300 winners including 119 at Group 1 level during his outstanding career and is a certainty for Hall of Fame honours sooner rather than later. But McDonald's admission that he is still improving as a rider is a glaring example of the single-minded pursuit of excellence that drives Sydney's superstar jockey. It is also a warning to his peers that the 32-year-old jockey many already regard as the world's best can only get better. In an exclusive interview with News Corp, McDonald reveals his ambitions for the 2025/26 racing season, his horses to follow this spring, the riding records he covets most, and if a move to Hong Kong is imminent. THE NEW SEASON McDonald has begun his quest for an eighth successive Sydney jockeys premiership and has five rides at Royal Randwick on Saturday including early favourites World Alliance and Glad You Think So. He is coming off a career-best season which included 21 Group 1 wins with his mounts earning nearly $60m prizemoney worldwide. • J-Mac: Ka Ying Rising beatable in The Everest It will be very difficult to exceed those results in 2025/26 but McDonald says he is up for the challenge. 'I realise it is going to be hard to repeat last season but I've thought that every year since 2021 when I won The Everest and Melbourne Cup,'' McDonald said. McDonald rode what was then a career-best 11 Group 1 winners for $37.1m prizemoney in 2021-22 but in the three seasons since, he has improved those returns each time. He rode 14 Group 1 winners for $44.8m in 2022-23, then 19 majors for $56.3m in 2023-24 before his record-breaking efforts last season. 'I was very proud of my 2024/25 season, that's for sure,'' McDonald said. 'But there are new goals for the new season and I will be trying to replicate what we did last season in 2025-26.'' HORSES TO FOLLOW A glimpse of the equine talent McDonald rode at Randwick's Thursday barrier trial session this week gives the jockey reason to be confident he can have another season to remember. McDonald rode some of Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller stable's main spring carnival contenders including champion Via Sistina, outstanding four-year-old mares Lady Shenandoah and Autumn Glow, and gifted three-year-old colt Wodeton. 'We are very lucky with the calibre of horse Chris has in his stable,'' he said. 'If you look at Lady Shenandoah, Autumn Glow and Aeliana, they are only young horses but they cover the sprinter, miler and staying ranks. 'Then there are the older, established horses like Via Sistina and Fangirl. 'Via Sistina has come back a lot heavier than she was this time last year and she has felt massive in her trials. She looks to have returned in great order. 'To be fair, I haven't sat on Fangirl so far this preparation but from all reports she is going as well as ever. 'Wodeton is a very talented colt who is also trialling very well. He is not a big, heavy colt but he has returned longer and taller, and he's very athletic.'' James McDonald and Chris Waller have 47 Group 1 wins together – the second highest jockey-trainer combination. Picture: Getty Images McDonald also rates highly another two of Waller's promising three-year-old team, Central Coast and particularly unbeaten Autumn Boy. 'Central Coast is a bit of a sleeper,'' he said. 'The colt has kept improving with race day experience and can continue to make the necessary steps for sure. 'Autumn Boy jumped out of the ground late last season. He is very much in the mould of his father (The Autumn Sun) and I think he is the one that has the most scope to improve. 'He has so much raw ability and if he keeps progressing like his father did then the ceiling could be very high with him.'' THE RECORDS McDonald is chasing three of the great George Moore's most coveted riding records this season. He is aiming for an eighth successive Sydney premiership and his 10th title overall. Only Moore has managed these feats. Plus, the partnership McDonald has with Waller has already netted them 47 Group 1 wins together – the second highest of any jockey-trainer combination in Australian racing history behind Moore and Tommy Smith with 54 majors. • Bulked-up Private Harry to unveil new look in Everest McDonald is something of a racing purist and is cognisant of Moore's longstanding records. 'I also admire those jockeys before us like George Moore and Darren Beadman who have set these very high standards,'' he said. 'One of my goals this season is to chase the record of Tommy Smith and George Moore for most Group 1 wins. We are not far from it.'' Autumn Glow is among a number of emerging horses McDonald is looking forward to riding this spring. Picture: Getty Images McDonald said it is an honour to be in the conversation with two legends of Australian racing. 'When you talk about Tommy Smith and George Moore, they are the greatest trainer-jockey combination of all-time,'' he added. McDonald has got his title defence off to a good start with a winner at the opening meeting of the season on Amusing at Rosehill last Saturday and another success on Slinky at the Canterbury midweeks. But any thought of getting close to Beadman's all-time Sydney record of 164 wins set in 2006-07 was dismissed by McDonald. 'That won't be happening,'' he said. HONG KONG CALLING One of the main reasons McDonald won't get close to Beadman's Sydney riding record is the expectation he will spend nearly two months riding in Hong Kong again after the spring carnival. • Pride keen on keeping Plan A with Private Eye 'I'm likely to have a stint in Hong Kong later in the year,'' McDonald said. 'It works really well for me because it is a change of scenery for six weeks or so. 'It is like a little freshen up, a change is as good as a holiday, as they say, but I still have to get that ticked off by the (Hong Kong) Jockey Club.'' McDonald's success in Hong Kong in recent years has inevitably led to speculation that he will eventually move there permanently. But the champion jockey was noncommittal when asked about the likelihood of riding full-time in Hong Kong. 'You never say never,'' he said. 'But I like riding in Sydney and I like riding the good horses. 'I've got great working relationships with most trainers, especially Chris (Waller). We had a fantastic year last year and for now I'm focused on domestic targets and the spring carnival.''
The Australian
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Chris Waller and James McDonald ignite Godolphin's new era at Rosehill
Premiership winners Chris Waller and James McDonald kicked off Godolphin's new era on a winning note with Amusing saluting for the 'Blue Army' at Rosehill. Premiership winners Chris Waller and James McDonald helped launch Godolphin's new era with a bang as Amusing gave the champion trainer his first winner for the 'Blue Army' at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Godolphin has moved from a private to public training model for the new season with multiple trainers from Sydney and Melbourne taking over the powerhouse's racing stock from departing conditioner James Cummings. Waller was one of many prominent recipients with Amusing the first horse to line up at the races for a new stable across Australia. • 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! McDonald made sure it was easy viewing for all involved as Amusing comfortably dispatched rivals to salute in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m). 'It's certainly a great honour to be training for Godolphin, they've been our biggest competitor for so many years and we've watched them every week to see what they are doing, how we are performing against them and they've been the best yardstick,' Waller said. 'There success has been amazing, starting with Woodlands with the Inghams and Sheik Mohammed buying that operation and developing their own operation. 'What their team has done has been amazing. It's great for Australian racing and to be one of the nine or 10 trainers to be chosen to train for them is an honour to be considered good enough to train for them.' 'The mutual respect over the years has been fantastic for their trainers, staff and management and they've really been the benchmark.' Waller watched the race with Hall of Famer Darren Beadman, who had spent his first full morning at the stable as a new member of Waller's staff. Amusing is one of nine horses now with Waller with the leading conditioner also set to put the polish on a string of two-year-olds later in the season. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2025 The classy daughter of Masar came to Waller in winning form after narrowly edging out her now stablemate Sister Daae over the same track and trip last month. 'We've taken over from a great operation and just seeing the horses coming into our system, a lot of the riders have just said 'wow',' Waller said. 'The young horses are so well educated and horses like Amusing have settled in really well. 'James has done a great job and their team and it really is an honour. 'I was nervous coming into the race just to make sure everything went well and things like that so it was a good relief.' McDonald was happy to stay closest to the inside on Amusing ($2.80 favourite) and had hit the front 300m from home before bounding clear to score by 2¼ lengths from Narbold ($5) and the Nathan Doyle-trained Aroha Stone ($12). McDonald has only just celebrating securing his seventh consecutive Sydney jockeys' premiership last season and ninth in total to move one away from George Moore's all-time record of 10 victories. He needed one race to move back to the top of the pile in Sydney racing. 'It's great to get off to a winning start,' McDonald said. 'It always sucks going back to zero, especially after such a long season like it was but it's good to make the perfect start and here we go again. 'Onwards and upwards, I'm looking forward to this season, there's plenty to look forward to and it was good to kick off with a nice winner like that, especially being Godolphin's first runner with Chris. 'She's a filly with plenty to offer going forward I think. She's a lovely big scopy filly.' Waller's 142-win metropolitan haul last season secured a remarkable 15th Sydney trainers' premiership in succession with the Rosehill conditioner the odds-on favourite to continue that reign in 2025/26. 'We take our Saturday racing so seriously and it was last Saturday the end of season and then it was straight into it, what can we do better and where can we improve,' Waller said. 'We did a few little things different and went through the runners yesterday, different to how we did before and trying to make the race day a little bit easier so we knew exactly what we were doing yesterday and what was handling tracks. 'Just being a little bit better prepared.' Horse Racing Trainer Denim Wynen celebrated her first city win as former Yulong-owned mare Sunshine Law relished the heavy conditions to score at Rosehill. Horse Racing Unbeaten mare Without Parallel stormed into The Kosciuszko contention after demolishing her rivals in a Highway at Rosehill.
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
$51 roughie Autumn Boy stuns $1.4m yearling Central Coast in Chris Waller quinella at Canterbury on Monday
It wasn't the result favourite backers wanted but trainer Chris Waller might have unearthed two promising colts when outsider Autumn Boy ran down boom stablemate Central Coast at Canterbury on Monday. Central Coast, who cost $1.4m as a yearling, was all the rage and was backed into $1.65 favouritism to make a winning debut in the two-year-old opener, the Drinkwise Plate (1250m). But another Waller-trained first-starter, $51 outsider Autumn Boy produced a powerful finish to collar Central Coast near the line. • 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! James McDonald gave the superbly-bred Central Coast (Wootton Bassett-Sunlight) every possible chance but the colt could not withstand his stablemate's powerful late surge. Waller's stable representative, Charlie Duckworth, admitted he thought Autumn Boy might find the 1250m 'too short'. 'Autumn Boy has always been a dream to deal with but he flies under the radar a bit,'' Duckworth told Sky Thoroughbred Central. 'He is bred to get over further so it is really exciting to see him win.'' Autumn Boy, ridden by Jason Collett, ambushed Central Coast late to win by nearly a short neck with Godolphin first-starter Cabriole ($3.30) nearly two lengths away third. Central Coast shared the early lead with Cosmonaut before McDonald let that horse cross and find the fence. McDonald then eased Central Coast off heels to be outside the leader coming to the turn where the favourite forged to the front and looked certain to score until Autumn Boy, a son of Arrowfield Stud's boom young sire The Autumn Sun, burst on the scene. 'It was his first day at 'school' and I'm sure he will take good benefit from the experience,'' Duckworth said. 'We will take a sit next time he will be much better for it.''
