From Tokyo to Eagle Farm: The Unstoppable JMac

Even without a mount in the main event, the Stradbroke, James McDonald, riding strong with superlative touch, is a major playmaker at Eagle Farm today.

JMac followed his five Eagle Farm winners last Saturday with, meagre by his standards, a treble on the Kensington circuit last Wednesday.

Earlier in the month he produced a pearl to take the Group 1 Yashuda Kinen on Romantic Warrior in Tokyo so the New Zealander is anything but a homebased superstar and currently leads the world’s best jockey ratings.

Yet JMac has hardly gained the exposure on recent sporting media compared to Latrell Mitchell, booming after a couple of solid if not outstanding performances for South Sydney against suspect opposition.

Once horses and jockeys of JMac status shared top billing with the distinguished sportsmen of their day. Saddle champion Darby Munro was always around the status of cricket greats and few if any gained more headline exposure than George Moore whose cotton fingers were acclaimed worldwide.

Now the outstanding turf performances are restricted to racing outlets, mainly sectionalised away from the general viewing, reading or listening. Modern day greats don’t get the wide audience of their predecessors.

Yes, Mitchell is a talking point; good at representative level but overall sadly lacking for the Rabbits at the time of writing. However if JMac with the same Rugby League prowess as he has on horseback qualified for New South Wales we would go from $2.50 to a $1.50 against Queensland on their home territory, near Eagle Farm, where JMac will carry a fortune in public support on possibly six mounts.

Perhaps his hot favourite Freedom Rally in the Wayne Wilson is risk because the gelding is first reserve for the Stradbroke, his target race, in which Vilana was the favourite during week.

Vilana looked very good for JMac at Eagle Farm last Saturday in the Moreton Cup but he can’t make the 53kg required thus Tim Clark takes over with the 14 launch requiring early expertise. Clark won the event on Alligator Blood two years back and is accomplished out of the gates.

Alas no Moreton Cup winner has taken the Stradbroke in 24 attempting, achieving only three thirds. What do I make of it? My selections appear in Play The Exotics.

Like all Stradbrokes this year is an intriguing contest. Rarely is a mare topweight, 56kg, the position of Bella Nepotina who ran the best sprinter in Australia, I Wish I Win, to under a half-length last start in the T.J.Smith. Is the 23 jump a downside under the cerebral Craig Williams?

Anyway JMac will apply his skill to Broadsiding in the J.J. Atkins, like the Stradbroke, a Group one. Some are saying Broadsiding could be the best two-year-old in Australia. We’ll see.

Broadsiding carries the Godolphin blue as does Pereille (Hinkler), and Razors (Gunsynd) but two of his most intriguing engagements are C’East Magique (Dane Ripper) and Adelaide River (World Pool).

C’Est Magique, plus blinkers, will be having her first start for Chris Waller after a very impressive Sydney barrier trial while import Adelaide River, who has lengths on the opposition considering Irish efforts, will be out to make amends after failing dismally at his Australian debut following support from $4.50 to $4.60. Today he gets the double hit: JMac and his first start after cardiac arrythmia. Usually those afflicted do much better next time.

Note I haven’t used the “c” (champion) title for JMac. To me it’s a feeling, not a statistic. Yes Jim Cassidy left me with it when he won the 1992 Stradbroke on Rough Habit from the 18 gate, a similar situation to Craig Williams  today.

So JMac will, for the time being, just have to remain a “great” like Roy Higgins, John Miller, Shane Dye amongst others who excelled but he’s getting close. Romantic Warrior generated a tingle but then he’s the fourth best horse in the world.