After six-win Randwick blitz, J-Mac braces for ‘harder’ week

World’s best jockey James McDonald says his focus has to be even sharper this week after riding a record six winners at Randwick on Saturday.

Along with the half-dozen successes, McDonald picked up his first careless riding charge in more than a year and will miss four meetings this week, but will be back for Coolmore Classic day.

“These days the preparation away from the track is more important than the riding itself,” McDonald said. “If don’t get decisions right leading into a Saturday, I don’t ride winners.

“I have to choose the right rides and some of the choices are hard.

“The riding is the easy part really.

“I have to look after my body and make sure I’m ready to go on Saturday.

“It will be harder this week because I’m not riding [in races]. I have trackwork Monday and Tuesday, but missing a week it is amazing how it affects you.

“I have found the first ride after a small break can take more out of you than six rides when you are in a rhythm.

“I’ll put in extra work this week to make I’m ready on Saturday.”

McDonald revealed that he expected win six on Gangsta Granny after winning the Canterbury Stakes on Joliestar.

“I thought Gangsta Granny was my best ride for the day, so after riding five, I was fairly confident if I got it right, she would win,” McDonald said.

 He sits only two Group 1 wins behind Damien Oliver’s Australasian record of 129 after Saturday and only three from 100 Group 1s in Australia.

Surprisingly, he trails Craig Williams in the Group 1 tally for this season, with Williams on seven to McDonald’s five.

Lazzura will give McDonald his next Group 1 chance in the Coolmore Classic as the Golden Slipper carnival starts at Rosehill on Saturday.

“She would love the track to get into the soft range because she loves getting her toe in the ground,” McDonald said. “She is a quality mare and just needed that run last time [when pipped by Cinsault in the Millie Fox Stakes].

“The three-year-olds look pretty good this year but she will get her chance for a Group 1.”

McDonald’s other main rides are Central Europe in the Pago Pago Stakes and Australian Guineas placegetter Sixties in the Phar Lap Stakes.

“I have had a bit to do with Central Europe and he was very unlucky not to win last time in the Skyline [Stakes],” McDonald said.

“It leaves him having to win this race to get in the Slipper, if he does I have no doubt he will one of the ones to beat in the Slipper.

“He continues to improve and the run has helped him, but he has to beat Warwoven, which is a great test for him.”