“The pressure was on from the get-go, and (Pride Of) Jenni didn’t have her peace. This horse has really worked really well here, even though I fell off her on Tuesday.
“She felt like she was gliding around the course really well, and I had a quiet first half, and I wheeled her out, kept her happy.
“She seems just to grow a bit of confidence, and it was a Winx-like performance.”
McDonald, who said it was a thrill to bring up his 100th group 1 win on a Waller horse, admitted the pressure of reaching the milestone had started to weigh on him.
What more can I say: James McDonald after the win.Credit: Getty Images
“I think so. I think there was more pressure. Obviously, the other two [Cox Plate winners] were well-fancied, but they were very easy horses to ride,” McDonald said.
“This one, she’s not easy. Things needed to go our way and probably the momentum of this 100 has been quite heavy. Especially each week, everyone’s been gunning for me and I haven’t been able to get the job done.”
Broadsiding trainer James Cummings, who trained Anamoe to victory, stood to watch McDonald return to scale. He was in awe of the winner who was well clear of the runner-up and two lengths clear of his horse which flashed home to finish third just ahead of a brave Mr Brightside.
Such was the dominance of the win, McDonald stood in the irons before the line to emotionally acknowledge the triumph with the jockey receiving a $2000 fine for his celebration.
After the track work incident this week, Waller had changed the routine and declared Via Sistina fit to run. “We’ve had to do these things before. You just had to forget what happened on Tuesday, she’s a good horse and it was my job to prove it,” Waller said.
Pride of Jenni’s trainer Ciaron Maher said the race went to plan for the front-running star, but the horse didn’t run to form after a tough run the previous week in Sydney. “It was always going to be a big ask … she has had another great preparation,“Maher said. “She’s an unbelievably tough horse.”
Via Sistina and the drama at track work on Tuesday.Credit: Getty Images
Kah’s horse out of Melbourne Cup
Champion jockey Jamie Kah is searching for a Melbourne Cup mount after connections of her intended ride in the big race, Point King, notified stewards the horse would not be in the field when third acceptances are taken on Monday.
It is another blow for Kah after her mount in the Everest, Traffic Warden, was scratched after being fractious at the barriers. But she is certain to be in demand as the Cup draws nearer.
jamie Kah after riding Point King to victory oin the Lexus Archer StakesCredit: Getty Images
Kah rode Melbourne Cup hope The Map in the Geelong Cup, but connections of that horse confirmed on Friday that Sydney hoop Rachel King would ride The Map.
Kah has only two rides at Moonee Valley on Saturday, but one of her mounts is three-year-old star Broadsiding, who she will ride at 49.5 kilograms in the Cox Plate.
Point King was fourth favourite for the Cup, and claimed a berth in the famous race on the first Tuesday in November after winning the Lexus Archer Stakes.
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Prominent owners Lloyd and Nick Williams decided to withdraw Point King because they were not happy with the horse’s action. Lloyd Williams is a seven-time winner of the Cup, having triumphed in 1981, 1985, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017 and most recently in 2020.
Meanwhile, the all-conquering Ciaron Maher unearthed another potential Melbourne Cup runner on Friday night when Okita Soushi won the 2500-metre Moonee Valley Gold Cup by half a length from the Lloyd Williams-owned Serpentine.
The Irish import sits 39th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, but could be elevated up the list if he receives a penalty from RV handicapper David Hegan.
“He’s just a classic stayer that wants 12 furlongs [2400m]. Once you get him to that level, and at a level of fitness, he excels,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
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“It [the Melbourne Cup] has always been the long-term plan when he came to us off the back of his last campaign in spring. It’s really good and pleasing when things work out in terms of timing.”
Maher is looking to have at least four starters on the first Tuesday in November, including Okita Sushi, Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire, Geelong Cup runner-up Interpetation and import Saint George, which is currently 31st in the order of entry.
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