Champion jockey James McDonald will look to secure his first Group 1 victory in Adelaide this weekend, while trainer Chris Waller is closing in on a major career milestone at Morphettville.
The dominant Sydney combination will team up with Generosity in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and Panova in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m).
McDonald has enjoyed an outstanding autumn carnival in Sydney, riding 10 Group 1 winners to bring his total to 13 for the 2025/26 season. A win in Adelaide would move him closer to Malcolm “Miracle” Johnston’s long-standing national record of 16 Group 1 wins in a season, set in 1979-80.
Success with either runner would also edge Waller closer to a significant personal milestone. The leading trainer prepared 12 Group 1 winners during the Sydney carnival and currently sits on 198 career Group 1 victories.
He is poised to join legendary trainers Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith — both of whom finished with 246 Group 1 wins — as the only Australian conditioners to reach 200 Group 1 wins.
Waller has already trained 18 Group 1 winners this season and requires just one more to equal the national record he set last year.
Despite his recent success, McDonald remains focused on making amends after Generosity’s luckless run in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill.
The mare raced wide throughout but still finished strongly to be beaten less than half a length when fifth behind Marhoona on Golden Slipper Day.
“If there is one race that got away this autumn it was The Galaxy,” McDonald admitted.
“But Generosity is in career-best for and hopefully we can make amends on Saturday.”
Generosity is currently second favourite for the Robert Sangster Stakes at $6, behind Point Barrow at $4, with another potential Royal Ascot contender Charm Stone at $8.
Panova, a winner of the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington last spring, has been unplaced in three runs this preparation but is expected to peak over the Oaks distance.
“Panova is very capable on her day but she has been half a run short each and every time,” McDonald said.
“But now she has basically caught up and she had that 2000m run where she ran a good race in the Vinery Stud Stakes, seventh to Belle Cheval.
“She’s had a tick-over trial (Flemington) since and is ready to peak now.”
Panova sits on the third line of betting at $6 for the Australasian Oaks, behind Getta Good Feeling at $3 and After Summer at $5.
Following his Adelaide rides, McDonald will travel to Hong Kong for Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, where he is booked for three Group 1 mounts.
He will partner Romantic Warrior in the $HK30 million QEII Cup (2000m), Fast Network in the $HK24 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), and Invincible Ibis in the $HK24 million Champions Mile (1600m).
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