Champion jockey James McDonald may have major ambitions ahead at The Championships, but he maintained his usual sharp concentration during the midweek fixture, securing a double victory at Warwick Farm.
The top rider partnered with Ciaron Maher to claim the first race on Seraphox ($1.90 favourite), then teamed up with Chris Waller to capture the Drinkwise Plate (1300m) with newcomer Mr Miller ($5.50).
Seraphox had finished out of the placings behind Paradoxium in the Todman Stakes (1200m) on his initial start after racing wide from the barriers, yet he relished the class reduction to secure his first success.
“He’s a nice, progressive horse who will excel as he gets further,” McDonald said.
“He did everything beautifully today and he won accordingly.”
Amy Burke, Head of Racing for the Maher stable, noted that Seraphox had consistently displayed potential.
“You’re putting your money where your mouth is first-up going into a stakes race like that,” Burke said.
“He was far from disgraced, and he really came on from that run as well.
“His whole demeanour, you could see in the yard beforehand he was completely on his toes the whole way around but never broke a sweat. He’s a very nice horse going forward.”
McDonald completed his race-to-race treble aboard Mr Miller, who edged out $2.70 favourite Graffiti Tycoon by three-quarters of a length.
Assistant trainer Darren Beadman for Waller mentioned the gelding had demonstrated talent in training and trials but required education on settling.
“He was very keen first trial and wanted to get on with the job. We just had to reprogram him a little bit, and that was the benefit of James having the ride on him in the trial, just to get him to switch off,” Beadman said.
The jockey now shifts focus to Group 1 commitments at Randwick over the weekend, riding Observer in the ATC Australian Derby (2400m), along with Joliestar and Campione D’Italia for Waller in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Sires’ Produce Stakes respectively.
Check out the racing betting markets for McDonald’s rides during The Championships at leading online bookmakers.
