Godolphin jockey James McDonald won the accolade of Premier Jockey at the recently -concluded Melbourne Spring Carnival, an award based on results at the 12 premier race days stretching from September 26 to November 14.
Godolphin jockey James McDonald won the accolade of Premier Jockey at the recently -concluded Melbourne Spring Carnival, an award based on results at the 12 premier race days stretching from September 26 to November 14.
McDonald collected the A$25,000 first prize, plus another A$25,000 for his designated charity, Variety, following Saturday's Sandown Cup meeting, which brought down the curtain on a fabulous seven weeks of racing at the highest level.
To cap a fine Spring, the jockey rode one of the most enterprising races seen for some time when he dashed popular stayer Who Shot Thebarman around the field to take up the running before the turn in the G2 Zipping Classic, over 2,400m.
On straightening for home, McDonald gave his partner a nudge and the Chris Waller-trained galloper bounded away to win by seven lengths. Nobody begrudged the winner his success following a luckless run when 11th previously in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
McDonald sealed the jockeys award for the Carnival with this victory, and one week earlier, he also collected the Ron Hutchinson Excellence Award for his riding over the four days of the Flemington Melbourne Cup Carnival.
"It is a great honour, and I am very grateful to Team Godolphin for the support and backing they give me, it is fantastic, and it means so much," McDonald said. "I would also like to thank the other owners and trainers who gave me rides over the carnival.
"My highlight of the past few weeks was winning the Ron Hutchinson trophy. Ron was a great jockey, who travelled the world, riding in all the top races. It is an honour to win his award, " he added.
McDonald is now preparing for a trip to Hong Kong for the International Jockeys Challenge at Happy Valley on December 9. Whether he stays on for the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on December 13 depends on a decision regarding Contributer's participation.
"That is something John (O'Shea, trainer) will sort out. If Contributer does run in the Cup (over 2,000m), I will stay on to ride him," the jockey added.
In the UK, Godolphin again appear to have a couple of realistic contenders for the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield Park on March 25. Let's Go, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, won the Listed Churchill Stakes on Saturday with a performance that jockey James Doyle argued was better than it looked.
"He is qualified for Finals' Day now, and everyone will sit down and have a chat about whether he will go to Dubai to see how he takes to the dirt there. He is certainly one to look forward to," he pointed out.
On the same card, Race Day staked his claim for another race on the all-weather when taking the one-mile Novice Stakes. Doyle commented: "He stayed the mile really well. We will keep pressing on with him. He will probably run in a Fast Track Qualifier," he added.
The most interesting international race on Sunday was run at Kranji, namely the G1 Singapore Gold Cup, over 2,200m. With the Singapore International (formerly run in May) now dropped from the calendar, this domestic G1 has now become the city's premier race.
Victory went to Cooptado, trained in Singapore by Patrick Shaw. This Argentinian-bred stayer came to Doug Watson to be trained in Dubai after winning two of his five starts and finishing third in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional in his native country earlier in his career.
Watson managed to get one win from five starts from Cooptado, a Listed contest at Meydan, but he also saddled him to finish fifth in the 2014 UAE Derby behind Toast Of New York.
Cooptado swept through the field, coming from 11th on the home bend, to beat Fastnet Dragon, nailing him on the line by a head. Perfect P finished third.
