James Mcdonald is almost without peer as a jockey but his judgement of horseflesh will be put to the test when he partners River Of Stars in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill.
One of six runners for trainer Chris Waller in the staying feature, River Of Stars is among two Yulong-owned, European imports making their Australian debut in the race.
Assistant conditioner Charlie Duckworth said McDonald was offered his choice of ride and landed on the new arrival.
“‘J Mac’ was given the option of all the runners. He went and galloped River Of Stars twice in quarantine, as well as on Tuesday this week and he opted to stick with her despite the awkward draw,” Duckworth said.
“He felt she has gotten over the flight slightly better, in his opinion, than (stablemate) Zarir.
“He said it was very much gut instinct going for that rather than anything else, and obviously, he knows a few of the other runners.”
Both River Of Stars and Zarir are well-credentialled stayers having been Group 1 placed overseas.
They will be joined in Saturday’s race by barn mate and Metropolitan winner Land Legend, 2022 New Zealand Derby victor Asterix and former Europeans Zechariah and Kinesiology, who are both in their second Australian campaigns after arriving in the spring.
Zechariah was an unlucky third behind Sydney Cup favourite Alalcance in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m) last start after being held up for a run in the straight.
He hasn’t won since scoring at Group 3 level in 2022, but he did spend the next two years on the sidelines and has only raced five times since.
“I guess it scares you a little bit sometimes when they haven’t done it for a while, but he was unlucky last start,” Duckworth said.
“He was trying to win, he just didn’t get the luck.
“The distance is spot-on for him. The rain coming on the day could mean it ends up being a real mudlark’s race and it will be a genuine staying test, which I think he will enjoy.”
All six of Waller’s charges hold entries for the Sydney Cup (3200m) and each is marked at $26 or under with online betting sites for next month’s two-mile test.
