James McDonald's return to Sandown for Beiwacht ride after an eight-year hiatus

Beiwacht, a triple Group 1 winner trained by Chris Waller, made its initial acquaintance with Sandown on Tuesday morning. This track familiarisation was also beneficial for another key figure.

Champion jockey James McDonald made his first journey to the spacious Sandown track in eight years, teaming up with Beiwacht for a course proper gallop in the lead-up to Saturday's $1 million Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m).

The C F Orr Stakes historically took place at this venue from 1966 to 1996, before moving its base to Caulfield.

Alongside the C F Orr Stakes, Saturday's card will also host the Group 2 Zipping Classic. It has been eight years since McDonald last rode at Sandown, which was on Zipping Classic Day in 2018, where he had three rides without success, including aboard Who Shot Thebarman in the main race.

He had previously partnered that stayer to victory in the Zipping Classic three years earlier, which represented the 34-year-old's second and most recent success at Sandown.

“I looked pretty baby-faced then,” McDonald commented on Tuesday morning when asked about his recollections of the Zipping Classic win. “It's good to be back. It's obviously a fantastic racecourse and got so much room. It's nice to be here.”

If Beiwacht, under McDonald's guidance, can achieve a fourth Group 1 victory over 1400 metres, Sandown will become the 20th track where McDonald has ridden a winner at the pinnacle of racing.

Beiwacht's previous Group 1 wins were achieved with other jockeys: Adam Hyeronimus rode him to victory in last year's Group 1 Golden Rose, and Nash Rawiller was aboard for his All Aged Stakes and Memsie Stakes successes.

As the Orr Stakes represents the inaugural race where McDonald will partner the son of Bivouac, he was keen to seize the opportunity to ride him in a gallop just four days prior to the feature race.

“I've ridden him in trackwork a little bit, but this will be my first sit on him under pressure and I'm looking forward to it,” he said. “Obviously he's a very good horse, it looks a strong race, but he's definitely up to that. He's got a new challenge here with Sandown, but I'm sure he'll cope pretty well.”

McDonald is also slated to contest another Zipping Classic this Saturday, riding Travolta in the $750,000 feature event over 2400 metres. Additionally, he is booked for Consulate in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) and Chayan in the $1 million Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m).

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