James McDonald has warmed up for Saturday’s Magic Millions meeting with two effortless wins at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday.
The champion jockey opened the program aboard debutant Astronomix for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton before repeating the dose on Bjorn Baker-trained favourite Unleeshing.
Unleeshing dropped back from Benchmark 78 grade into the Myplates Benchmark 64 (1550m) and was heavily backed to start $1.55.
McDonald settled the My Racehorse-owned mare just off the speed before peeling out approaching the turn and surging clear late.
She powered away to score by four lengths over Shanoni, with Kilkenny a further length away in third.
Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton was hopeful the performance could spark a winning sequence.
“It was an easy win,” Hilton said.
“She might even get a little bit further and hopefully she takes come confidence.”
McDonald said the result was never in doubt.
“That was painless, she never felt like she was ever going to lose,” McDonald said.
“They just dawdled the first furlong and a half, and then obviously a little bit of pace got injected. We ended up in a good spot and away she went.”
“There’s about a million owners so I’m sure there’s uncles and sisters and brothers that are related to anyone in the horse!”
McDonald heads to the Gold Coast with eight rides, including Knightsbridge in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and Memo in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.