Racing: McDonald to defend title

Thorn Prince finally hit the big time with his win in the Taumarunui Gold Cup on Saturday. Photo / Thinkstock

Sydney’s leading jockey returns from England just in time to rejoin premiership battle.

James McDonald is a popular figure in Sydney racing, but Blake Shinn and Hugh Bowman will offer a scowl when they see him in a Sydney birdcage in the next couple of weeks.

Shinn and Bowman are attempting to run McDonald down for the Sydney jockeys' premiership and although neither are saying much they would have been disappointed when they learned McDonald is returning early from his European busman's holiday before the end of the season on July 31.

The New Zealand superstar is not coming back to his Sydney base for reasons of the premiership fight - he had conceded that when he headed to England - but at the insistence of Godolphin trainer John O'Shea, who wants McDonald to be available to ride Godolphin's spring stars at barrier trial meetings.

McDonald heads the premiership on 88 wins, with Blake Shinn moving to 85.5 with his win on Hollywood Bound in the last at Rosehill on Saturday. Hugh Bowman is on 84.

With that single win, Shinn has become the $2.60 favourite to take the premiership, but McDonald may have the last say on that. McDonald and Bowman are at $2.80 for the title.

One of the Godolphin horses McDonald is likely to be on for the premiership fight will be Haussmann, a stylish winner at Rosehill on Saturday under Christian Reith.

He will run next in the Winter Stakes in two weeks.

O'Shea offered his thoughts about McDonald's next four weeks.

"He will be straight off the plane from England and straight back to work," he said. "No detours along the way, either. We've got Macca riding and trying to win a premiership and we'll see if we can give him a hand and hopefully old Haussmann can give him the opportunity.

"I think it's a great team effort [with Haussmann]. He's been really flying at home and enjoying his work and he's a happy and healthy horse."

No arguments with Thorn Prince's $65,000 Taumarunui Gold Cup victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.

That was a tough track to shoulder 59kg clear topweight on and he never flinched, winning as though he had just joined in.

Surprisingly, there were a decent number of horses on the programme who appeared to be having problems handling the footing. Some of that form may not hold up. If you had a bet and it missed give it another go next time.

If you backed Peacefuleasyfeelin in the Cup, definitely back up.

Leith Innes reported to stewards Peacefuleasyfeelin had been making noises in his breathing late in the race. A veterinary examination revealed the Matamata stayer had mud in his trachea.

Craig Phelan drove his float to Te Aroha yesterday and thought he was a chance to win a couple of races.

The Cambridge trainer won with each of the four horses he floated and Irish jockey Emily Farr rode all four.

On the way home, Phelan said he couldn't wait to get there.

"I'm going to smack myself in the head when I get home to make sure I'm awake. These things don't happen."

If you say that's a record, it won't be, but it must be close to one.

Phelan's first runner Bahhton was at short odds to make a winning debut over hurdles and made no mistake.

A race later, West End continued his improvement with a strong win over hurdles.

Notabadrooster won one of the jumpers' highweights and Worthhiswaitingold ended the programme with the easiest win of the day.

A $10 multi bet on the four got you $2042.62.

Back in action
•Sydney premiership leader James McDonald will return from England and could defend the title he won last season.
•Thorn Prince notched a well-deserved win in the Taumarunui Gold Cup.
•Cambridge horseman Craig Phelan took four horses to Te Aroha and enjoyed a perfect day.