3 minute read

Champion jockey James McDonald obviously has a good handle on what’s required to be a major Golden Slipper contender this year and he sees some similarities between his Slipper mount and promising colt Gatsby’s.

Coolmore confirmed James Mcdonald will ride Switzerland in next week's $5 million showdown, with Ryan Moore to partner Storm Boy.

And it's that Chris Waller -trained colt who Gatsby's reminds McDonald of a little when it comes to his attitude to racing.

Gatsby's is a $26 chance in the Slipper but as $2.30 favourite in the Group 3 $250,000 TAB Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday a win would see him force his way into the field should connections wish to back up.

"He's a beautiful horse, similar to Switzerland in terms of he's an old head on young shoulders,'' McDonald said on Sky Sports Radio.

"He just has a fantastic attitude. He's not very big in stature but he can definitely boogie a bit.

"You'll see a pretty good version of him on Saturday for sure, we're hoping he can do good things there."

The form around the colt's impressive debut win at Canterbury stood up when the runner-up Roselyn's Star won easily at Kensington on Wednesday.

The $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m) is one Group 1 race to so far elude McDonald but he says Zougotcha heads into the race with her tail up after a strong first-up win.

The four-year-old has 57kg in the fillies and mares feature but McDonald said her Millie Fox win, over Lady Laguna, showed she's back to her best and doesn't believe the weight is a major disadvantage.

"We thought she would run really well but she exceeded probably expectations just coming off a lull preparation,'' he said.

"The 1500m is perfect for her second up and her work has been really good.

"She has to lug the top weight around but she probably deserves it, she's a very good horse on her day and she's in great form so she is definitely the one to beat especially with a good gate."

Lightly raced former Kiwi galloper Saltcoats has only won the one race to date but McDonald is quietly confident he can notch a second in the Group 2 $300,000 Chandon Phar Lap Stakes (1500m).

It's a race Chris Waller has dominated winning seven of the last nine editions but with fillies like Winx, Verry Elleegant and Zougotcha last year.

"He's a really nice horse, he's very progressive and he is the type of Kiwi, tough sort of breed, that wants to overdo things at times but is a very enthusiastic horse,'' McDonald said.

"He can really gallop, he's got a wicked action to him and I expect him to run extremely well."

The gelding hasn't raced since a close second to Infatuation at Randwick back in early February but McDonald put him through his paces in a barrier trial last week to familiarise himself.

"He was desperately in need of a good draw and he got that, he's a talented horse and he's well and truly up to winning that race,'' he said.