James Mcdonald completed riding history at the Melbourne Cup Carnival when Zaaki became his tenth winner of the week at Flemington.
His win on the Annabel Neasham-trained galloper in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) on Saturday gave McDonald the mark bettering the nine winners Brett Prebble registered in 1999 and 2000.
It was Prebble who chased McDonald home aboard Cascadian in the Mackinnon and 50m after the line the pair embraced.
“I was very happy for him,” Prebble said.
“He’s been a long-time friend and it’s very fitting that he’s done it.
“He’s going to rewrite the record books, so it’s a good honour to be beaten by him.”
McDonald earlier on Saturday won his third Group 1 of the carnival aboard Nature Strip in the Darley Sprint Classic but was seen at his best on Zaaki over the 2000m course rating the former English galloper to perfection.
Sent out the $2.25 favourite, Zaaki scored by 1-ÂŒ lengths from Cascadian ($26) with Mo’Unga ($6.50), a stablemate of the winner, 1-Ÿ lengths off third.
McDonald said the past three weeks had possibly been his greatest in the saddle.
“It started with The Everest, and it comes down to this fantastic carnival,” Prebble said.
“It’s obviously a fantastic thrill. I obviously can’t do it without the support of all the trainers that have put me on this week, and good horses that I’ve been so lucky to partner for the whole week.
“To start off with the Coolmore, then the Holy Grail (the Melbourne Cup on Verry Elleegant) which is the special one and then to cap it off with two more today.”
Prebble was McDonald’s boyhood idol, and the jockey has a picture of the two taken 20 years ago.
“Just past the post he yelled out ‘son, son, come here’,” McDonald said.
“That was really special to share.”
For Neasham the victory made up for some of the disappointment of having to scratch Zaaki from the Cox Plate on October 22 on race morning with a raised temperature.
The disappointment was wiped away with Saturday’s victory, although she did say she was quite nervous beforehand.
“He looked fresh in the run,” Neasham said.
“He obviously hadn’t run for a month, but it was a beautiful ride by James who can do no wrong at the moment.
“I knew at the top of the straight that he had such a lapful of horse that I knew it would take a good one to run him down.
“It’s superb and Mo’unga and I’m very proud of him.”
