Six Randwick winners for jockey McDonald

In the concluding race of Randwick's 10-race schedule, McDonald claimed an unprecedented sixth success partnering Gangsta Granny in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).

No jockey had previously secured six winners on a Sydney Saturday card since Jim Cassidy achieved it in 1987.

What elevates McDonald's performance further is that all six of his victories occurred in Group or Listed events.

Among those, McDonald won aboard Joliestar in the Canterbury Stakes, Generosity in the Challenge Stakes, Pinito in the Aspiration Quality, Beadman in the Fireball Stakes, and Chayan in the Reisling Stakes.

"I knew I had a proper book of rides. I thought every single one was capable of winning with a bit of luck,'' McDonald said.

"But it was one of those days where everything just falls into place. If you get that luck, it just snowballs.

"You can feel them running well and you're feeling good on top of them and things just worked out that way.

"I did ride six winners in New Zealand once (2010) but this is the first time I've done it in Sydney.''

McDonald's dominance shone through despite a guilty verdict on a careless riding charge involving Hidrix in the Todman Stakes.

He accepted the plea, resulting in a four-meeting suspension from Racing NSW stewards effective Sunday, though he can participate at the Coolmore Classic the following Saturday.

The Team Hawkes charge Gangsta Granny ($2.80) proved her quality, sealing McDonald's landmark day with a three-quarter length triumph ahead of $41 chance Cosmonova and Asgarda ($81) who was a neck behind in third.

"I thought she looked pretty well placed today even with the 58kgs," McDonald said.

"She is a class mare and did run Autumn Glow to half a length."

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes considers talented Gangsta Granny to have "gone to another level" this campaign, now with five wins (and five minor placings) in 10 starts.

"Her trials have been outstanding, she has come back with a bang,'' Hawkes said.

"It was a nice race that we picked for her. We thought it was an easier race, albeit she had to carry the weight, but she is a class mare.

"She has always been strong, she has always been that sort of mare but you just want these good horses to come back to the next level, which she has."

A key autumn objective for Gangsta Granny is yet to be settled, according to Hawkes.

"She can go anyway,'' Hawkes said.

"The improvement she has taken, they've run good time, it's only first-up and she carried a big weight. Her day will come and hopefully we can get to the top of the tree."

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