Hawkesbury treble puts McDonald in sight of NSW ton

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James McDonald

New South Wales' leading jockey, James McDonald, has quickly moved on from the disappointment of 's fifth place in the $4 million (2000m) at Randwick last Saturday.

That was after he booted home three winners at Hawkesbury Racing Club on Wednesday – Norwegian Bliss for , In Secret for James Cummings, and Calgary Queen for Brad Widdup.

That took him to 99 wins for the current NSW racing season, four ahead of second-placed Ashley Morgan in the jockeys' standings.

He is also well ahead in the metropolitan premiership standings with 84 winners, a title he has won the past three consecutive campaigns with over 100 victories in each of those seasons.

30-year-old hoop is confident he can notch up a century of wins in his home state for 2021-22 at Randwick on the final day of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival this Saturday.

Notably, the New Zealand Racing Hall of Famer will be aboard seven-year-old for James Cummings in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

Last year's Doncaster Mile winner, who last saluted in the $300,000 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 26, will start at odds of $12 to win with Bovada.

And McDonald thinks that is great value for punters, with his mount starting from barrier one.

“(He's looking) super. He's drawn really well. He'll be hard to beat,” he told HorseBetting.com.au.

McDonald said Verry Elleegant gave it her all last Saturday.

A decision will be made by top trainer Chris Waller and her owners this week on whether she will run in France's prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

“It (her run) was hard. The track just didn't play into her hands,” McDonald said.

“We were back and couldn't make up ground.”

McDonald believes four-year-old mare Norwegian Bliss can become a competitive mile runner after her half-length triumph in the $50,000 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) at Clarendon on Wednesday.

“It was gutsy. Absolutely (she can run well over a mile) – she's going to be much better for that,” he said.

“Eleven-hundred metres just has her out of her comfort zone.”

McDonald has ridden 12 winners from 50 starts over the past month.

Highlights have been guiding Nature Strip to a 3.5-length win in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2, and saluting in the $1 million (1200m) also at Randwick one week later.

“It's been OK. It's been a stop-start season the past three months, but hopefully rocking now,” McDonald said.

Meanwhile, Waller is hoping Sydney's ongoing wet conditions improve by Saturday.

That will be when Hungry Heart ($31 with Bovada) and ($61) will also compete in the All Aged Stakes.

“Both horses need good tracks,” he said.

“It's been frustrating for those two. Hungry Heart has only had one run this prep (fourth in the $250,000 over 1400m on February 12), and last autumn she was at the peak of her powers winning Group 1 races.

“So if she doesn't get a chance on Saturday, she'll head to .

“And Kolding is pretty much the same.”

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