New Zealand’s premier jockey James McDonald showcased his talent on one of Sydney’s biggest race days with a winning treble in the opening three events at Randwick.
McDonald opened Doncaster Day on Saturday with victories on Dear Demi and Single Style in the Listed Fernhill Handicap and Listed Keith Mackay Quality respectively.
He then steered the John O’Shea-trained Lightinthenite to a first-up success in the third race.
Scone Cup-bound Lightinthenite returned for his first start since December to defeat Skyerush by a neck in the Keystone Group Handicap (1400m) with 1-1/4-lengths to Altered Boy in third.
O’Shea has had a lot to do with getting McDonald to ride in Sydney on the big days and the 20-year-old jockey said it was nice to notch a winner for the Randwick trainer on Lightinthenite.
“He’s probably the one that I’ve got to thank mostly,” McDonald said.
“He’s got me over here and given me the best opportunity and I’m just trying to grab it with both hands.”
O’Shea said McDonald’s early treble highlighted why he had been keen to get the jockey to Sydney.
“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.”
Randwick was upgraded to a Slow (6) which was the second upgrade in as many races after opening the day with a heavy (8).
Randwick had copped 155mm of rain between Tuesday and Thursday.
