Any thoughts James McDonald might have had about a holiday in Europe have been quashed by trainer John O’Shea.
Although he has been riding in England since the beginning of June, McDonald has retained the lead in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership ahead of his return at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Since McDonald left on 88-1/2 wins, Blake Shinn has whittled the margin to one with Hugh Bowman another 1-1/2 behind with five meetings remaining this season.
O’Shea is the head Australian trainer for Godolphin with McDonald the stable’s retained rider.
“James will be back and we will be helping him win the premiership,” O’Shea said.
“He comes back on Tuesday and we will have five or six rides for him on Wednesday,” O’Shea said.
“We will also have another five or six for him on Saturday including Haussmann in the Winter Stakes.”
McDonald won the 2013/14 premiership with 72 wins, two more than the now Hong Kong-based Nash Rawiller.
O’Shea is nearing the end of his first full season with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation.
He claimed a stakes double at the end of last season when Generalife added the Winter Stakes (1400m) to his win in the Civic Stakes(1350m), a double Haussmann is trying to emulate.
“Haussmann will run,” O’Shea said.
“I think 1400 metres sees him out and he’s no Generalife but he will get his chance.”
Generalife ended his autumn/winter campaign with Group One thirds in the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap.
Haussmann has won seven races with the Civic Stakes his first beyond 1300 metres.
Two Blue, who ran a game second to him in the Civic Stakes, is also expected to be among his opposition on Saturday.
