James McDonald

Atishu takes out Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes

Posted on November 11, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

The lethal combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald have claimed another Group 1 at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, as they combined with Atishu () to take out the $3 million VRC Champions Stakes. After running in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes last Saturday and running home into second place behind Pride[...]

Posted on November 4, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

The final field and barrier draw for the 2023 Melbourne Cup has been confirmed, with 24 runners set to do battle over the 3200m at Flemington on November 7. Before the barrier draw, the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban was the race favourite with online bookmakers at , closely followed by Gold Trip () and 2023 Caulfield[...]

Posted on November 1, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

A capacity field of 16 three-year-olds will step out at Flemington this Saturday in the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m). Riff Rocket has been the long-standing favourite for the $2 million feature since destroying his rivals in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m), and despite being nosed out in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m)[...]

Posted on October 28, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Many refer to the Cox Plate as the best two minutes in sport, and the 2023 edition of the Group 1 feature at Moonee Valley did not disappoint, as Romantic Warrior () nosed out Mr Brightside () in a photo finish to claim Australia's best race. You couldn't have scripted the race any better, with[...]

Posted on October 18, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

The Group 3 Caulfield Classic has attracted a relatively small field of runners this Saturday afternoon, with eight horses set to clash in the $200,000 contest at Caulfield. Last start Super Impose Stakes winner Riff Rocket could be the reason why the acceptances are on the slimmer side, with the Chris Waller-trained gelding smashing his[...]

Posted on October 14, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

The inaugural running of the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) has been taken out by Fangirl ($5), as Chris Waller & James McDonald combined for their fourth success on the five-year-old mare. It was a race setup by the stablemate and Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) winner, Rediener () electing to head straight[...]

Posted on October 14, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

James McDonald and team Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have combined with I Am Me proving too strong in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. It was another case of on-speed success at Randwick with the first three runners turning for home able to finish in the first four. Coal Crusher[...]

Posted on October 8, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Trainer Danny Shum is confident this afternoon's fourth-placed effort in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, Melbourne has Romantic Warrior on the right track for his Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) tilt on October 28 at Moonee Valley. “He hasn't raced for close to five months, so he needs the run, actually. James[...]

Posted on October 5, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Danny Shum is hopeful Romantic Warrior can cast aside 15 quality rivals when he lines up in Saturday's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, however, the trainer is expecting his triple Group 1 winner to improve out of his first Australian race and reach tip-top condition for his Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m)[...]

Posted on October 2, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Hawaii Five Oh secured a coveted spot in The Everest's (1200m) lineup late on Sunday, clinching a place in the $20 million race after his narrow defeat in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, Sydney on Saturday. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the four-year-old will proudly carry the colours of Aquis Farm in The[...]

Posted on September 23, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

In a shocking turn of events, the reigning Everest champion, Giga Kick, has been forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated $20 million Everest. This unexpected setback is attributed to an injury suffered by the Clayton Douglas-trained superstar, a torn gluteal muscle, during the widely discussed Group 2 McEwen Stakes, a 1000m race held at[...]

Posted on September 5, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Champion jockey James McDonald faces a challenging month on the sidelines due to a recent injury. Scans have revealed that he fractured his foot in a fall at Wyong, New South Wales last Friday, leading to his unexpected hiatus from horse racing. Despite the initial fall, the 31-year-old decided to continue riding at Randwick the[...]

Posted on August 19, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Fangirl ($5) has finally chalked up her second career Group 1 victory on Saturday with a barnstorming performance in the Winx Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained mare was all the rage when markets opened on Wednesday afternoon, getting into as short as $4 with online bookmakers; however, with rain hitting the track on Wednesday and Thursday,[...]

Posted on June 20, 2023
in Horse Racing News

Royal Ascot gets off to a sizzling start with fierce competition for the three prestigious Group 1 contests that launch the eagerly anticipated meeting. Some of the USA's and Australia's best sprinters take on the cream of the home team, headed by the admirable mare Highfield Princess, in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes over[...]

Posted on June 10, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

The lethal combination of James McDonald and Chris Waller has struck early on Stradbroke Handicap Day at Eagle Farm, as they combined with Rediener to hold on and take out the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic. McDonald made sure that his three-year-old gelded son of Redoute's Choice wasn't too far away from the leaders, as he[...]

Posted on May 27, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Two years after taking out the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm, the Kiwi-bred Kukeracha returned to the same Eagle Farm meeting on Saturday and landed another big prize over the same course and distance. The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old prevailed in a tight finish to the Group 3 Premier's Cup (2400m), taking his[...]

Posted on May 26, 2023
in Australian Horse Racing News

Trainer Chris Waller has a stranglehold on Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) with a two-pronged attack, headed by $1.70 favourite Kovalica and impressive last-start winner Special Swey ($9.50). A son of Ocean Park, Kovalica has long been set for the $1 million feature. The winner of five of his eight starts, Kovalica won the[...]

Atishu takes out Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes

Favourite draws perfectly for Melbourne Cup

Riff Rocket opens favourite for Victoria Derby

Romantic Warrior wins Cox Plate

Riff Rocket headlines Caulfield Classic field

Fangirl makes a mess of rivals in King Charles III Stakes

I Am Me takes out Group 3 Sydney Stakes

Danny Shum expects Romantic Warrior improvement for Cox Plate

All systems go for Romantic Warrior in Turnbull Stakes

Hawaii Five Oh Everest bound

Giga Kick ruled out of Spring Carnival

J-Mac set to miss a month of racing

Fangirl earns much-deserved Group 1 victory in Winx Stakes

International stars set for battle in Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes

McDonald lifts Rediener to strong Gunsynd Classic victory

More Queensland success for Kukeracha

Kovalica heads strong Waller hand in Queensland Derby

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