New Zealand’s premier jockey James McDonald has notched another milestone, riding his first winner for Gai Waterhouse at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
The 20-year-old star hoop rode five-year-old gelding Reuben Percival to victory in the Provincial Stayers Championship Final (2250m).
Based in Sydney in recent weeks, McDonald does the bulk of his riding for Waterhouse’s fellow Randwick trainer John O’Shea but made the most of his first opportunity for Waterhouse.
McDonald became the first jockey to win more than 200 races in a New Zealand season last year, and Waterhouse was full of praise for the talented rider.
“He’s a brilliant jockey,” Waterhouse said.
“I’ve said before I think he’s the best rider to come out of New Zealand since Shane Dye.”
Waterhouse’s number-one jockey Nash Rawiller was aboard runner-up Charing Cross who was beaten three lengths.
The trainer’s other stable rider Tommy Berry was in Adelaide to ride Tohunga who missed a place in the South Australian Derby.
McDonald had a stellar run at last month’s Doncaster Day at Randwick, riding four winners including his first Sydney Group One on Temple of Boom in the Galaxy.
He will be in Hong Kong on Sunday to ride Xtension in the Group One Champions Mile.
“It’s my first ride for Gai and it’s a good result,” McDonald said.
“It was a great thrill to ride one for her.”
Waterhouse had already taken out the previous race when Rawiller won the Blakes Marine Handicap (1400m) aboard Samui Lad.
The in-form trainer said Reuben Percival had more in store and would progress to the McKell Cup (2400m) at Randwick on May 20.
“He’s a very nice horse in the making. He just hasn’t got to the distance he likes,” she said.
“I could have run him in the Sydney Cup but I wanted to keep him for some lesser races where was better weighted.”
