Star jockey James McDonald is battling a bout of illness but remains determined to fulfill his riding commitments at Eagle Farm this Saturday.
After being ruled out of Wednesday’s Kensington meeting due to illness, McDonald was still clearly under the weather when he spoke on Friday, yet remains optimistic about taking part in one of Brisbane’s biggest race days.
McDonald has seven rides booked, including high-profile mounts in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) aboard Rothfire and in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) on promising youngster Hidden Achievement.
The meeting carries extra significance for the champion hoop, who just last week assisted Chris Waller in breaking the national training record for most Group 1 wins in a single season. Now, McDonald has a shot at history himself, needing just one more Group 1 triumph to match “Miracle” Malcolm Johnston’s long-standing record of 16 wins in a season, set back in 1979-80.
“I haven’t been feeling well since Wednesday,” McDonald said.
“I don’t know what it is, some sort of virus.
“But I’ll be doing my best to ride. I will be doing everything I can to be there.
“Put it this way, it would take a lot for me to miss a big day like Stradbroke day. I want to get there to ride in the first race and see how I go.”
