James McDonald back with a Bang
![](https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Caballus-29072023-9697-734x460.jpg)
James McDonald has wasted no time reminding Sydney’s star apprentices who’s boss, sooling juvenile Caballus to a narrow but impressive win at his first Saturday ride back from an overseas break.
The midweek Canterbury meeting was McDonald’s first in the harbour city since June 7, the champion hoop having spent time in Brisbane before heading to England for the Royal Ascot carnival and a European holiday.
In his absence, junior riders Zac Lloyd and Dylan Gibbons have been stealing the limelight, but McDonald has served notice he is back in town with a pitch perfect effort on the Chris Waller-trained Caballus in the opening race at Randwick, the colt atoning for a luckless debut at Canterbury.
“It’s good to have James back,” Waller said.
“He did a great job there, put him into a beautiful spot, got him into a nice rhythm and just kept him rolling.
“We just wanted to get his first win out of the way then join up where we can.
“He ran very well on debut, he just had no luck. I think the positive out of that is he had a good experience, and today he knew what he was here for.”
By I Am Invincible, Caballus ($12) was a $1 million yearling and while he has taken time to mature, Waller says he has above-average ability.
He is yet to lock in plans for the rising three-year-old, but the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on August 26 is a likely target.
The colt scored by a half-head over highly touted filly Estriella ($2.90 betr fav), who was game in defeat, with Lloyd’s mount Shaken ($3.30) three lengths away third, the winner recording a class record 1:03.25 for the 1100m.
McDonald believes Caballus has all the hallmarks of being a smart three-year-old.
“He’s a cracking horse, a really good moving horse, good attitude so it will take him a long way,” McDonald said.
“It’s nice to knock off a nice, sharp two-year-old race with him and hopefully the three-year-old season is good to him.”
More Racing News
Barbaric Lad to test his spring hopes in JJ Atkins Stakes
A slightly smaller field along with a middle barrier draw is expected to suit the Anthony and S Freedman-trained Barbaric Lad in his first Group 1 assignment. Sam Freedman has plenty of time for the colt by Brutal who will be having his first attempt at 1600m when he runs in the JJ...
The Kosciuszko aim for Elson Boy?
Elson Boy is in a rich vein of form of late, winning his fifth race in a row last start at Scone on their feature Saturday meeting and trainer Dar Lunn is keen to see what heights the gelding can reach in the Spring. Bought for just $6000, Elson Boy took a while...
Gelding to bring out best in Earlswood
Maddie Raymond is banking on a gelding operation producing the best from Earlswood. The UK-bred galloper arrived in Australia in late 2021 and immediately made an impact, taking out the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield in February 2022. In eight starts since, Earlswood has not troubled the scorers with a best...
Forgotten King edging to a return
Dual Listed race winner All The King’s Men is a strong chance to return for the upcoming spring and summer carnival, according to trainer Trevor Andrews. The five-year-old won last year’s WA Breeders Stakes (1400m) and Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) at Pinjarra and Ascot respectively and has spent almost 12 months...
Huetor set to target The Q22
The Q22 wasn’t originally on the winter carnival program for Huetor, but the dual group 1 winner has responded so well to a short freshen-up that co-trainer Peter Snowden has had a change of heart. Snowden planned to bypass the Q22 (2200m) this year given Huetor had finished unplaced in the past...
Stradbroke Handicap 2024 mount reward for hard work
Jockey Will Price has been rewarded for his work with the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable by picking up the ride aboard Roll On High in the Stradbroke Handicap. Roll On High earned a start in the Group 1 contest over 1400m at Eagle Farm on Saturday after taking out the Group 3 Fred...
Maher filly knocks their Socks off in the Queensland Oaks
Ciaron Maher and Ryan Maloney have combined to orchestrate a major upset in the Queensland Oaks, winning it with one of the rank outsiders of the Group One field. Starting at $101, Socks Nation stalked the speed before hitting the front at the top of the straight then raising another effort to beat off...
Alysha Collett lifts Mnementh in Bob Charley AO Stakes
Three weeks ago, Mitchell Beer feared the racing career of Mnementh might be over. Instead, the tenacious gelding has delivered the young trainer his first stakes win since his relocation to Kembla Grange last year. Beer had high hopes for the sprinter in the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone last start but the horse...
Virtuous Circle breaks long drought at Flemington races
Trainer Liam Howley says criticism of the time between wins for Virtuous Circle is unjustified after the gelding returned to winning form at Flemington. Virtuous Circle registered his first win in more than 650 days when taking out the RDA Daylesford Lesley Hewitt Trophy (2000m) on Saturday. The four-year-old last tasted success in August...
Eliyass puts a spring in jockey Tim Clarkâs step
Tim Clark says French import Eliyass has the scope to make his presence felt in the spring after dominating at his Australian debut in the Lord Mayors Cup at Randwick. While many former European horses take a preparation to acclimatise to local conditions, the five-year-old made an immediate impact. Trailing the solid tempo set...