McDonald to return to the saddle next week after health scare
By Chris Roots
Champion jockey James McDonald will return to the saddle from an illness lay-off at Randwick’s Kensington meeting on Wednesday.
McDonald hasn’t ridden since he had to go to hospital after four rides at Warwick Farm on June 26 and was diagnosed with a gall stones problem that forced him to miss the last group 1 meeting of the season in Brisbane.
Champion jockey James McDonald will be back riding next Wednesday.Credit: Getty
McDonald took a planned holiday for the past two weeks and is in Hong Kong for its horse of the year awards on Friday where Romantic Warrior, which won group 1s in three countries this season including the Cox Plate, is set to win the major honour for the second consecutive season.
“It settled down pretty quickly once they worked out what was the problem,” McDonald said. “It was a good time to have a break and freshen up. I’m right now.
“I will be taking rides from Wednesday and I want to win the premiership.”
McDonald sits on 83 Sydney wins for the season. Nash Rawiller is making a late charge and has closed the gap to six wins after a winning double at Randwick last weekend.
Rawiller will ride three favourites at Randwick on Saturday – Cranky Harry, Testator Silens and Bear On The Loose.
“I have been watching while I have been off and I’m not very good at it,” McDonald said. “It has been amazing what a couple of weeks of has done for my body, and I just want to get back riding.”
Meanwhile, Coolmore Classic winner Espiona will be offered for sale by Magic Millions on behalf of Star Thoroughbreds in a stand-alone auction on line on July 31.
Espiona should attract worldwide attention. Magic Millions auctioneer Clint Donovan has been charged with taking the bids.
“Being able to offer her through a stand-alone virtual sale will give the owners, vendor, prospective buyers and interested parties the opportunity to see her sell via a streamlined process by a world class auctioneer,” Mgic Millions boss Barry Bowditch said.
“It will provide Espiona a fitting sales process to take her to the next journey of her life.”
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