New Zealand’s two superstar expat jockeys go head to head in four Group1s in Sydney on Saturday, but Mick Dee admits James McDonald could have too big an edge over him in the feature race.
Although McDonald has been the king of the Sydney jockeys room for the last few seasons, he was almost forced to miss Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill through suspension until his sentence was reduced on appeal.
That will allow him to ride Slipper favourite Cylinder and Australia’s best horse Anamoe, who clashes with Kiwi mare Levante in the A$1 million George Ryder Stakes, the pair having drawn the two outside barriers in the 11-horse field.
Levante will be ridden by Dee, the 26-year-old from Hawke’s Bay whose has skyrocketed up the Australian riding ranks this season by winning the Caulfield Cup, Victoria Derby, Blue Diamond, Australian Guineas and last Saturday’s Coolmore Classic on Espiona.
He has become a racing carnival jockey, one so in demand for Group1 races he can follow the big money in the best races whether they be in his new home in Melbourne or in Sydney, with the bonus of being able to ride at just 51kg.