James McDonald will ride Epsom Handicap favourite Te Akau Shark when he makes his Australian debut in the Tramway Stakes.
Now Sydney’s premier jockey, McDonald was formerly the stable rider for the powerful Te Akau operation in New Zealand.
Te Akau Shark is the TAB’s $6 favourite for the Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 and will have his lead-up in the Group Two Tramway (1400m) on September 7.
McDonald will also be aboard Te Akau’s Probabeel who who will take on Libertini in the Furious Stakes at Randwick on the same day.
Both kiwi horses are trained by Jamie Richards with Te Akau Shark a sizzling second in his return in the Group Two Foxbridge Plate earlier this month.
He is owned by a group which includes Sydney businessman and Cronulla Sharks fan Steve Mace, his close friend and team captain Paul Gallen, and Te Akau principal David Ellis.
Probabeel is raced by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
She won the Karaka Million in February and finished fifth in the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes in Sydney, 1-3/4 lengths from the winner Microphone.
Te Akau Shark is a $15 chance in early Cox Plate markets headed by Mystic Journey at $4.50.