How Bowman’s horror Hong Kong fall opened door for top Sydney jockey
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Champion jockey James McDonald will close out his riding year in Hong Kong but remains focused on claiming another Sydney jockeys premiership when he returns.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club approached McDonald to take up a short-term contract after Hugh Bowman was injured in a fall on Saturday and English jockey Harry Bentley was suspended for two months for misconduct.
“It’s always an honour to have the Hong Kong Jockey Club ask you to ride over there and given the timing, it was a great opportunity for me to take it up this time,” McDonald said.
“I was going to be there for the International meeting to ride [Cox Plate winner] Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup and this just extends the stay by a couple of weeks.
“It is a chance to test myself for a short period in Hong Kong. I’ll be back in January [in Sydney], and I’ll be looking to win the premiership again.”
McDonald had an incredible spring, winning six group 1s including the Cox Plate and Victoria Derby-Oaks double. He had planned a short break in December, but will now ride through to the New Year.
Leading Sydney jockey James McDonald.Credit: Getty
He will represent New Zealand in the International Jockeys Challenge at Happy Valley on December 6, where Rachel King has been chosen as Australia’s representative.
The star factor McDonald provides played a big role in the offer after Bowman was ruled out for up to eight weeks after he fractured his right scapula and three vertebrae in a fall at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Hong Kong punters love to follow the big names and McDonald will be seen as good for betting turnover.
McDonald will not ride in Sydney again this year after he had to stand down from Wednesday’s Rosehill meeting because of a case of influenza. He hopes to be back on Saturday to add to his group 1 tally at Caulfield, where he is booked to ride the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar in the Thousand Guineas.
The Zoustar filly was a $950,000 Easter yearling purchase and has put it together as a spring three-year-old.
“After she ran second to Arctic Glamour in the Reginald Allen, we targeted this race because she looks like a miler,” Waller said. “Since we have taken her down to Melbourne she has thrived and she has finally got a good draw on Saturday.
“I’m sure she will run a strong mile, and we have James to make sure she gets the right run.”
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