J-Mac lands an early double
By his own lofty standard, James McDonald has had a relatively quiet spring to date, but he quickly found the winner’s circle on Cox Plate Day.
McDonald teamed up with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton to boot 3yo colt Napoleonic to victory in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes.
Red Anchor Stakes | Napoleonic
Napoleonic has panels on them 🤯⭐️ @mcacajamez has his eye in early, piloting the Wootton Bassett colt to a decisive win!
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/EN4ITxdatW— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2025
The colt made it three wins from four runs this campaign, his only defeat coming in the Roman Consul behind the Coolmore bound Hidden Motive.
The second of McDonald’s early double came aboard Stardom for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Stardom rolled forward in the Crockett Stakes and looked to be in trouble on the home bend, but she dug deep to win under McDonald’s urgings.
J-Mac, Gai, STARDOM ✨
All the way in the Crockett Stakes for Stardom as @mcacajamez makes it a race to race double! He’s seeing them nicely early 😉 pic.twitter.com/fMUHyB7bPf
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 25, 2025
It was no doubt a bittersweet win for Waterhouse and Bott, who had Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius removed from the race by Racing Victoria vets.
Interviewed post-race, Waterhouse said, “I’m only having a short day here because I’m going home to watch the rest on the telly,” after their only runner on the card claimed victory.
Star Of India breaks drought
It had been 1092 days since Star Of India’s last win in the 2022 Rosehill Cup, but he made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle in the 2040m JRA Plate.
The gelding spent 76 weeks on the sidelines after that Rosehill Cup win after suffering tendon issues. It has taken a while for him to work into form, but fourth up at The Valley on Saturday he was able to make a sustained run from midfield to get the better of Alenquer up the home straight.
JRA Cup | Star Of India
Star Of India is a star today ⭐️ The son of Galileo bounds away with the JRA Cup for @cwallerracing & @JyeMcNeil.
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/gDwuU4oUrE— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2025
Middle Earth sported the blinkers for the first time and he battled away stoutly into third. The gelding was on the quick back-up from last week’s Caulfield Cup and is potentially on a Melbourne Cup path.
Apprentice lands Group 2 glory
Emerging apprentice Logan Bates claimed the biggest win of his short career when Jigsaw led all the way in the McEwen Stakes.
There was drama pre-race when second favourite Tropicus played up in the barriers, hitting his face on the structure. He was bloodied from the incident and vets quickly declared him a late scratching.
Jigsaw bounded straight to the front for Bates before kicking clear on the turn to win comfortably, the backmarkers not able to make an impression late.
McEwen Stakes | Jigsaw
Jigsaw pounds them into the turf! He’s back to his absolute best, winning the McEwen Stakes comfortably in the end 🧩
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/qeP0zvC67U— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2025
Bates is apprenticed to Jigsaw’s trainer, Cindy Alderson, so the win was even sweeter for the apprentice.
“It’s so special, to do it for Cindy and the Alderson family,” Bates said post-race.
“It’s just amazing, I’m rapt to see this horse (Jigsaw) back in this sort of form.”
“I’ve only been riding just over two years, to knock off a Group 2 so early – I’m just so grateful.”
Jigsaw’s win will also afford connections the opportunity to run in Moonee Valley’s slot in the $1 million Meteorite to be run on Cranbourne Cup Day.
Observer does the job for punters
Observer atoned for a luckless run in the Caulfield Guineas with a dominant win in the Group 2 Vase.
Jockey Mark Zahra was keen to try and find cover early on the star colt, but ultimately pressed on to take up the running. At the top of the straight he booted several lengths clear, setting up a winning break. Such was his lead, Mark Zahra sat up at the 75m mark, throttling Observer right down, the 0.5L margin doing little justice to his dominance.
Providence rattled home from last to run second while fellow Sydneysider O’Sheamus saved ground on the inside to finish third.
Observer wins the Vase eased down and Providence flashed home for second.
They’ve both firmed for the Derby.
Observer $3.25👉$2.25
Providence $15👉$6.00What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.pic.twitter.com/5tCorw0w23
— bet365 Australia (@bet365_aus) October 25, 2025
Post-race, Zahra told Racing.com that he was mindful that Observer would be backing up in next week’s Derby when looking after him over the concluding stages.
bet365 quickly slashed Observer’s Derby price from $3.25 to $2.25.
