James McDonald believes two exciting gallopers can make their presence felt during the spring carnival as he prepares to reunite with Columbus and Enviable at Rosehill on Saturday.
All eyes will be on the Les Bridge-trained Columbus and Chris Waller’s Enviable when they line up in separate races after both resumed with impressive victories at Newcastle earlier this month.
McDonald made the unusual decision to ride Columbus at a midweek Hawkesbury meeting when the gelding broke his maiden last October and believes the talented four-year-old could have featured in the major three-year-old races had injury not interrupted his progress.
Enviable also lost valuable time after suffering a paddock injury following a spring campaign that included a fourth placing in the Flight Stakes and a Group 2 placing during the Melbourne Carnival.
Both returned to winning form at Newcastle on July 14 and head to Rosehill as leading chances.
Enviable is the $2.60 favourite for the Congratulations Chris Waller Handicap (1400m), while Columbus is a $2.20 favourite for the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1500m).
“I was gutted when he had a bit of time off,” McDonald said of Columbus.
“I thought he was a perfect Rosehill Guineas type of horse, so he’s got huge talent. He’s got a lovely record, unexposed. A bit like the filly as well.
“She has been exposed to the top level, but what she was doing at three – she was so unfurnished – the time off has done her the world of good, and that confidence win would have done her the world of good.
“They’re two lovely horses.”
Saturday’s meeting also marks the beginning of another Sydney jockeys’ premiership campaign for McDonald, who secured his 10th overall title and eighth consecutive crown during the 2025/26 season.
McDonald finished with 91 Sydney metropolitan winners, 12 clear of Zac Lloyd, but expects defending his title to become increasingly difficult.
“It will get harder, that’s for sure. There is really good young talent,” McDonald said.
“As the years have gone by, the landscape has changed a little bit in terms of my travel and engagements. It will be similar to this year when I had so much time away and I was lucky to hang on.”
Despite spending more time interstate and overseas, including his ongoing association with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior, McDonald remains the benchmark among Sydney riders with a winning strike-rate of better than 25 per cent.
Compare the latest Rosehill markets with Australia’s leading Top 10 Betting Apps.
He will be hoping to begin the new season the same way he started the last one, when Amusing gave him a winner at his opening metropolitan ride, with Columbus set to launch his 2026/27 campaign at Rosehill.
