‘They are the most professional organisation I have ridden for’: History made, Ascot awaits for J-Mac

The World’s best jockey James McDonald knows the biggest moment of this week at Royal Ascot will come with Joliestar on Saturday, but he is looking forward to linking with Wathnam Racing again.

McDonald headed to England after breaking the record for Group 1 winners in an Australian season when he booted Tron Bolt to victory in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday. McDonald was on the same plane as fellow champion rider, Mark Zahra, who is also heading to Royal Ascot.

He will finish with 17 Group 1s for the term as he’ll miss the final Group 1 of the season, the Tatts Tiara, when he takes a break following Royal Ascot.

He will look for another Group 1 at the Royal meeting with Chris Waller-trained Joliestar, his best chance as the favourite for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Saturday.

“She has been such a good horse to me and is my main ride for the week, but hopefully by then I will have a couple of winners,” McDonald said. “She has won down the straight at Flemington and was outstanding in the autumn, if she brings that form she will be hard to beat.

“I’m going to have three or four rides every day and won’t really know what they are until the fields are drawn.”

McDonald will be second jockey to James Doyle for the powerful Wathnam team, which focuses its year around the Royal Ascot.

McDonald steered Crimson Advocate to victory in last year’s Duke Of Cambridge Stakes for Wathnam.

“They are just fantastic to ride and so well run,” McDonald said. “Richard Brown, Ollie Tait and the Doyler are great people to be around and I know that I’ll be getting the second-choice, but they have so many good chances in a week like Ascot.

“They are the most professional organisation I have ridden for, because they give so much information on every horse you get on for them.

“You are so well prepared when you go on the track.

“I would love them to get horses in Australia.”