Champion jockey James McDonald has no shortage of ride requests each week from Sydney’s top stables, making it a challenge when major races clash in Sydney and Melbourne.
This Saturday, McDonald will ride Chris Waller’s Switzerland in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, missing out on his Cox Plate-winning mare Via Sistina, who will run first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, with Kerrin McEvoy taking the ride.
McDonald admitted it was a tough decision, with strong horses racing in both cities.
“It’s difficult, but you can’t be in two places at once, and this weekend is a great example of that,” McDonald told Sydney’s Sky Racing radio.
“I sit down with Chris, and he makes the final call. I’m disappointed to miss those horses resuming at Randwick, but I’m excited to be on Switzerland as well.”
McDonald is chasing his second Lightning Stakes win after partnering Home Affairs to victory in 2022. Like Home Affairs, Switzerland is a three-year-old aiming to win the Lightning first-up after securing the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington last spring.
McDonald is confident Switzerland is ready for the challenge.
“He’s a really good colt and won the Coolmore in exceptional fashion,” McDonald said. “It’s a huge test, but he’s had perfect preparation with two trials, and we expect him to run really well.”
Despite a couple of setbacks early on, Switzerland impressed in the spring, and McDonald believes the colt is ready to take on weight-for-age competition.
“He’s shown from day one he’s a very good horse,” McDonald said. “I’m quietly confident he can make this next serious step.”