Champion English jockey to ride at The Championships

Coolmore has secured a top-tier replacement for James McDonald on the opening day of The Championships, with Ryan Moore stepping in to ride at Randwick on April 5.

Tom Magnier, Coolmore Australia's principal, confirmed on Tuesday that Moore is set to take over McDonald's engagements for the global powerhouse.

“The Dubai World Cup meeting is next weekend, and James was heading up there, so Ryan will be coming down here,” Magnier told Sky Sports Radio.

“The horse we have in Dubai, James McDonald is going to ride that for Aiden, so he’ll take Ryan’s ride there in the Gold Cup.

“Ryan is a key part of the team, and he keeps a close eye on these races, so he was thrilled when I asked if he wanted to come down.”

Moore will take the reins for what might be Switzerland’s last race in Australia when he lines up in the $3 million Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m).

The Snitzel progeny has failed to place in his last two starts since his spectacular victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. He finished fourth in the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) before crossing the line in sixth place in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

Coolmore will also have a contender in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ on April 5, though a decision is still pending on whether last Saturday’s Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton will compete in the 1400m feature.

If Wodeton does not line up, Moore will instead partner with the Ciaron Maher-trained State Visit in the Sires’ event.