Top jockey James McDonald secured his fourth stakes success on the Royal Randwick card as Generosity surged late to narrowly defeat Marhoona in an exciting Group 2 $500,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.
The weight-for-age dash delivered non-stop excitement right from the outset, with favourite Raging Force breaking down soon after the start and eased down by rider Tommy Berry prior to the home bend.
At the same time, seasoned speedster Mazu displayed unexpected pace up front, leading strongly ahead of Marhoona and Generosity in close pursuit, as 2022 The Everest victor Giga Kick laboured towards the rear.
However, McDonald’s brilliance made the key impact, slipping off Marhoona’s quarters down the straight to pip last season’s Golden Slipper winner on the wire.
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 photo finish, Generosity ($10) prevailed by a short half head over Marhoona ($9.50), with Mazu ($8.50) just a head further back in third position.
The mare covered the 1000m in a sharp 56.63s, featuring a brisk final 600m in 32.59s that left those trailing far behind with little chance to reel in the frontrunners.
Giga Kick ($3.20) closed gamely late to claim fourth, finishing within 1.5 lengths of the top spot.
The top three runners might meet once more in the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21, whereas Giga Kick heads towards the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.
This marked McDonald’s fourth triumph of the day, following prior wins on Pinito in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality, Beadman in the Listed Fireball Stakes, and Chayan in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes.
Trainer Chris Waller prepared Generosity with three barrier trials ahead of the Challenge Stakes, a rare approach for the renowned conditioner.
“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.”
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