Waller, McDonald combine for 2025 Wyong Cup success
Australia’s leading trainer-jockey duo of Chris Waller and James McDonald added another jewel to their partnership when Saltcoats claimed the Wyong Cup on Friday.
For Waller, it was a ninth success in the $250,000 Listed race, while McDonald secured his fourth win, each of them coming aboard one of the stable’s runners. Saltcoats, sent out $1.90 favourite, made amends for his last-start flop in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup with a tenacious victory.
The five-year-old son of Ardrossan tracked the leaders from the inside draw before producing a strong finish to edge out Salt Lake City ($15) by a long head, with Glory Daze ($5.50) a further margin away in third. “That (2100m) is probably as far as he wants but he did a good job today,” McDonald said. “He popped away nicely, relaxed like a dream and that enabled him to get the trip.”
Saltcoats now boasts five wins from 18 starts and more than $586,000 in prizemoney.
On the same program, the $250,000 Group 3 Mona Lisa Stakes went the way of Just Feelin’ Lucky ($4.40 fav) for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry. The favourite narrowly denied outsider Overriding ($41), with James McDonald placing third aboard Snow In May.
Spring racing markets, including futures for Saltcoats’ next assignments, are already open at Australia’s trusted betting sites.
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