James McDonald has already been a record breaker in his homeland and on Saturday showed why against the best in Australia with four Doncaster Day winners including the Group One Galaxy.
New Zealand’s premier jockey opened the Randwick program with a winning treble in the first three races before capping his day with a breakthrough Sydney Group One victory aboard Temple Of Boom in the Galaxy (1100m).
“I actually can’t believe I’ve just won a Group One in Sydney,” McDonald said.
“It’s a place I’ve always wanted to ride and what a day it has been.”
The 20-year-old has been a frequent visitor to Sydney in the past 12 months but is yet to make a permanent move from New Zealand.
Last season McDonald became the first jockey to win more than 200 races in a season in New Zealand which he did while still an apprentice.
McDonald said crossing the line a length in front on Temple Of Boom to notch his first Sydney Group One was a relief as much as anything.
“It’s the pinnacle of racing, the best of the best,” McDonald said.
“It’s pretty special. Especially to get four winners on a great day like this.”
McDonald’s Group One haul now sits at 12 including six this year.
While McDonald was one of the stars of the show on Doncaster Day, he didn’t escape the Galaxy without incident as stewards fined him $200 for excessive use of the whip.
“I think you can afford it,” chief steward Ray Murrihy told McDonald, which drew a quick response.
“Today I can,” McDonald said.
The day started with back-to-back Listed wins for McDonald aboard Dear Demi in the Fernhill Handicap and then Single Style in the Keith Mackay Quality.
He then partnered the John O’Shea-trained Lightinthenite to a first-up win in the Keystone Group Handicap.
O’Shea has been instrumental in luring McDonald to Sydney and certainly wasn’t surprised to see the jockey having a successful Doncaster day.
“He’s an extremely good talent,” O’Shea said.
“That’s why we’ve been keen to secure him for our stable and our clients and today is just a little taste of probably what is to come from James.”
