Champion jockey James Mcdonald rode his fourth stakes winner on the Royal Randwick program when Generosity arrived in time to edge out Marhoona in a thrilling Group 2 $500,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.
The weight-for-age sprint was action-packed from start to finish with the heavily backed Raging Force going amiss early and being eased out of the race by jockey Tommy Berry before the home turn.
Meanwhile, veteran sprinter Mazu was showing surprising speed and ripping along in front with Marhoona and Generosity the immediate chasers, while 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick was struggling to stay in touch back in the field.
But it was the genius of McDonald which proved the difference as he eased off Marhoona’s heels in the straight and got up to beat last year’s Golden Slipper winner right on the line.
McDonald said all three placegetters “fought it out really well”.
“Take nothing away from the second horse (Marhoona), I didn’t think I was going to get there, she’s a very good filly in her own right,” McDonald said.
“Generosity looked great in the parade ring and although I wasn’t intending to be there early, she jumped so well.
“Then she presented like the winner and jogged up to them. She’s a bonny little mare.
“Chris (Waller, trainer) was pretty confident before the race and you always get so much confidence when you get legged onto his horses because they’re primed and ready to go.
“She’s Group 2 placed (3rd in The Shorts) from memory but The Galaxy down in the weights is the perfect race for her.”
In a tight finish, Generosity ($10) got up to edge out Marhoona ($9.50) by a short half head with Mazu ($8.50) a head away third.
Generosity ran the 1000m in a fast 56.63s including a final 600m sectional of 32.59s which made it virtually impossible for those back in the field to catch the leaders.
Giga Kick ($3.20) was doing his best work on the line to finish fourth and closing to within 1.5 lengths of the winner.
The three placegetters all could clash again in the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 while Giga Kick is on track for the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.
Generosity was McDonald’s fourth winner after his earlier successes on Pinito (Group 3 Aspiration Quality), Beadman (Listed Fireball Stakes) and Chayan (Group 2 Reisling Stakes).
Waller gave Generosity three barrier trials to get her ready for the Challenge Stakes, an unusual tactic for the Hall of Fame trainer.
“Generosity needed to be fit and fresh to win this race,” Waller said.
“I didn’t lose faith in this mare, she’s got very good form in Perth and she’s a talented mare
“She was ready to go a month ago and then we thought, where are we going to run her?
“We know she is good fresh and we couldn’t find the right race so we put her on the treadmill for a week.
“Then we gave her a third trial as she had to be very fit and fresh for this race. She is a lovely horse to worth with, she is mentally mature now.
“So, we will go to The Galaxy on our home track at Rosehill now and could even look at the Sangster Stakes in Adelaide.”
