Racing
Small fish sweet for McDonald at Farm
James McDonald’s midweek success with two of the country’s leading trainers could be a portent of things to come on Doncaster Mile Day.
The ever-professional James Mcdonald might have some big fish to fry over The Championships, but he brings the same winning attitude to the midweeks, as evidenced by his early double aboard two progressive young horses at Warwick Farm.
The champion hoop combined with Ciaron Maher to land the first race aboard Seraphox ($1.90 fav), before linking with Chris Waller to take out the Drinkwise Plate (1300m) on debutant, Mr Miller ($5.50).
Seraphox had finished unplaced behind Paradoxium in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on debut when he had a wide run from an awkward gate, and appreciated a class drop to get his maiden win on the board.
"He's a nice, progressive horse who will excel as he gets further," McDonald said.
"He did everything beautifully today and he won accordingly."
Amy Burke, Head of Racing for Maher, said the stable had always had a nice opinion of the Harry Angel two-year-old and believed he had a bright future.
"You're putting your money where your mouth is first-up going into a stakes race like that," Burke said of his Todman assignment.
"He was far from disgraced, and he really came on from that run as well.
"His whole demeanour, you could see in the yard beforehand he was completely on his toes the whole way around but never broke a sweat. He's a very nice horse going forward."
McDonald made it a race-to-race double on Mr Miller, who downed $2.70 favourite Graffiti Tycoon by three-quarters of a length.
Waller's assistant trainer, Darren Beadman, said the horse had shown ability in his trials and at home and it had just been a case of learning to harness his enthusiasm.
"He was very keen first trial and wanted to get on with the job. We just had to reprogram him a little bit, and that was the benefit of James having the ride on him in the trial, just to get him to switch off," Beadman said.
McDonald will chase Group 1s with both Maher and Waller at Randwick this weekend, partnering Observer for the former in the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) and Joliestar and Campione D'italia for Waller in the T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes respectively.
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