Champion jockey James Mcdonald got to have his first sit aboard his 2022 Melbourne Cup ride Loft in trackwork at Flemington and immediately liked what he felt.
McDonald teams with the German-bred galloper in the Group 1 event over 3200m at Flemington on November 1 and gave the stayer a ‘test drive’ ahead of the gelding’s Australian debut.
The champion jockey, aiming for a second straight Cup win after riding Verry Elleegant to victory last year, worked Loft over 2000m at Flemington on Tuesday with the gelding quickening up nicely over the final 400m.
McDonald took the advice of co-owners John O’Neil and Ozzie Kheir in accepting the ride on Loft who is being prepared for next week’s feature by his German trainer Marcel Weiss.
“Johnny and Ozzie bought into him, and they have a huge reputation of sourcing these horses and they gave me a huge push,” McDonald said.
“The figures coming out of Germany and America have been great. He’s an athletic horse, a clean-winded horse and he looks a lovely chance in this race.”
McDonald said Loft was not a huge European stayer but moved really well.
He said it was important to have a sit aboard the stayer to get some sort of understanding of his characteristics ahead of the Melbourne Cup.
“I was extremely pleased with him,” McDonald said.
“He goes about his business in a lovely fashion. He worked lovely and quick this morning and was there to have a good searching gallop and he did that with flying colours.
“He was very relaxed and uncomplicated, and I was very pleased with the way he felt.
“I’ve watched his replays and I’ll watch them again and see if we can come up with a plan.
“I was really taken by him, and I was quite surprised too.
“He’s a ripping little horse.”
Loft was successful over Tuesday’s trip in Group 2 company at Hoppengarten in May and again in the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup in June with his most recent start being in the Listed Chester Stakes (2896m) on August 20.
With TAB, Loft sits on the second line of Cup betting at $7 behind Deauville Legend at $6.
