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McDonald in box seat for Magic day

3 minute read

James McDonald partners four of the early favourites at the Gold Coast.

JAMES MCDONALD.
 JAMES MCDONALD. Picture: Steve Hart

Champion hoop James McDonald is poised for a lucrative Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast before he returns to Sydney to concentrate on the upcoming autumn carnival. 

McDonald routinely demands outstanding books of rides, but he has an especially strong hand at Thursday's rescheduled meeting where he partners favourites in four of the eight races, including Empire Of Japan  in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m). 

His remaining mounts are all on the second or third line of betting with Big Boy Roy, a $6.50 chance for the Magic Millions Subzero (2200m), the outsider of his eight-strong book. 

Three of McDonald's rides are for Peter and Paul Snowden, including Empire Of Japan, the Breeders' Plate winner who was doing his best work late when resuming with a third to Fire Lane at Randwick on Christmas Eve. 

"He looks the part, he's got a great demeanour, a proper colt demeanour and he's a pretty good horse," McDonald told Sky Sports radio. 

"What he did in the Breeders Plate was fantastic. He backed it up on dry ground (last start) and was super running very quick sectionals from back in the race and probably needing the run. 

"The Snowdens being the Snowdens, they will be peaking him for the right day and I'll be very surprised if he's not fighting out the finish." 

McDonald links with stablemate Russian Conquest in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1425m), the filly looking to go one better than her second to Coolangatta in the Classic on the corresponding program 12 months ago. 

It was McDonald aboard Coolangatta who denied her, but he is confident Russian Conquest can make amends on Thursday, provided the track improves from its heavy rating. 

"She is the one to beat if there is dry conditions," he said. 

Russian Conquest is currently on the second line of betting behind Yellow Brick, while McDonald partners the market leaders in the Magic Millions Snippets (King Of Sparta), QTIS Open (Alpine Edge) and Cup (Oscar Zulu). 

He will be back in Sydney on Saturday where his mounts include Nicolini Vito for Ben and JD Hayes in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. 


Racing and Sports

Gold Coast

Thursday, 19th January 2023

3
14:37
(local)

$2M THE STAR GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC (LR)

Age: 2yo Type: OPEN
AUD $2,000,000
1200m TURF SOFT
3
14:37
(local)
AUD $2,000,000
1200m SOFT

$2M THE STAR GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC (LR)

Age: 2yo Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 13. SKIRT THE LAW (AUS) 2yo F
BETTER THAN READY (AUS) - OUTLAW KATE (AUS)
RYAN MALONEY
TONY GOLLAN
$7
55kg
Mrs B V Siemsen, Mrs J R Dunn, Mrs J Folsom, Mrs L E Essex, Mrs R Kelly, Mrs A L Ledwidge, Mrs S Morris, Mrs V L Morrissey, Mrs G E Saines, Mrs J L Van Buynder, Mrs A M Balsarini, Mrs J Barnes, Miss V D Johnston, Mrs P Lange, Mrs J Smith, Mrs A M Treichel, Mrs J Treichel, Mrs A Wallis & Mrs E Marr

Sales Information

2nd 10. PLATINUM JUBILEE (AUS) 2yo F
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - MISS DEBUTANTE (AUS)
REGAN BAYLISS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$6.5
55kg
Go Bloodstock Australia (Mgr: Sir O G Glenn), GW Holdings (Mgr: G J Wilson), R N Norris, F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook, Ms B L Cook, T Needham, S Bacon, Mrs S C Murdoch, Silvertail (Mgr: Mrs J T Wedge), R Cattle & M J Murdoch

Sales Information

3rd 12. SUMMER LOVING (AUS) 2yo F
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - SERENA BAY (AUS)
BRENTON AVDULLA
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$20
55kg
D Maher, A Harvey, H H W G Racing (Mgr: L Henderson), Milo Racing (Mgr: T Merlehan), B Gordon, M Grogan, Dr M Barth, Cazrob (Mgr: R Winney), D De Jersey, Z De Jersey, Mrs Z De Jersey, J Russell, Dr E Russell, G Macdonald, W Ekert, A Bundalo, Ms S Hunneybell, Mrs V Anderson, W Manning & Woodburn

Sales Information

4th 8. INFATUATION (AUS) 2yo F
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - SWEET KISS (AUS)
RACHEL KING
BJORN BAKER
$26
55kg

Sales Information

5th 9. FIRE LANE (AUS) 2yo F
HELLBENT (AUS) - HERITAGE LANE (AUS)
JAY FORD
BRAD WIDDUP
$14
55kg

Sales Information

6th 4. EMPIRE OF JAPAN (AUS) 2yo C
SNITZEL (AUS) - ICHIHARA (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$5
57kg

Sales Information

7th 16. EMPRESS OF WONDER (AUS) 2yo F
CHOISIR (AUS) - TSARINA WONDER (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$7.5
55kg

Sales Information

8th 14. MISS COOTA (AUS) 2yo F
SPIRIT OF BOOM (AUS) - ROCK GARDEN (AUS)
JUSTIN HUXTABLE
CHRIS MUNCE
$17
55kg

Sales Information

9th 11. CROATIAN BELLE (AUS) 2yo F
BRAZEN BEAU (AUS) - CROATIAN (AUS)
MICHAEL DEE
BEN & JD HAYES
$21
55kg

Sales Information

10th 5. ROYAL ENTRANCE (AUS) 2yo C
SNITZEL (AUS) - BALLET BLUE (AUS)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$26
57kg

Sales Information

11th 15. EXCEL D'OR (AUS) 2yo F
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - MISS CHIERRO (AUS)
BRODIE LOY
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$61
55kg

Sales Information

12th 7. CHRYSAOR (AUS) 2yo C
BETTER THAN READY (AUS) - NEW WINGS (AUS)
JAMES ORMAN
CHRIS WALLER
$61
57kg

Sales Information

13th 18. SHE'S A ROGUE (AUS) 2yo F
NICCONI (AUS) - QUELLE LIAISON (AUS)
BEN THOMPSON
CHRIS MUNCE
$201
55kg

Sales Information

14th 6. GODFATHER (AUS) 2yo C
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - MELIORA (AUS)
BEN MELHAM
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$31
57kg

Sales Information

15th 3. SUNSOURCE (AUS) 2yo C
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - PATRICIA DAWN (AUS)
MARK ZAHRA
TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG
$26
57kg

Sales Information

16th 2. SOVEREIGN FUND (AUS) 2yo C
CAPITALIST (AUS) - MOSSBEAT (AUS)
JAMIE KAH
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$6.5
57kg

Sales Information

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