Wunderkind’s out to win

BY AIDAN RODLEY

Teenage jockey sensation James McDonald is ready to repel the Zac attack.

The Cambridge 18-year-old has already proven he has the measure of the best jockeys in New Zealand; now he is preparing to come out victorious against one of the world's premier jockeys, Hong Kong-based Australian rider Zac Purton, in tomorrow's $2.2 million Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.

McDonald will continue his association with star Matamata filly Zarzuela, a winner of  her last three starts to earn $2.20 Derby favouritism.  A wide barrier draw has seen her drift to $2.80.

Purton, who flew into New Zealand today, will partner another Matamata three-year-old, Corporal Jones, runner-up to Zarzuela last month in both the Gr III Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa and the Gr II Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie at his last two starts.

Purton, 26, has followed a career path McDonald hopes one day to pursue himself, going from a domestic premiership win to gaining a contract to ride in the international hotbed of racing in Hong Kong.

''Zac's definitely a jockey I've always watched and have so much respect for,'' McDonald said this week.

''He's come from Brisbane and worked his way up through the grades and now is successful in Hong Kong. I knew he was a very good apprentice in Brisbane and he's gone on to do some fantastic things. Hopefully I can do the same.

 ''He's a very talented rider and this is a good opportunity to have a ride against him on basically equal terms. Both horses have got very good chances so hopefully I can out-think him and come away with a win.''

Purton has gained a release from riding in Hong Kong tomorrow to ride the Andrew Scott-trained Corporal Jones, who is set to do his four-year-old racing out of former Matamata trainer Paul O'Sullivan's Hong Kong stable next year after a sale was completed before the Championship Stakes.

On the request of the new owners, Purton was brought in to replace Derby-winning Matamata jockey Michael Coleman.

While Purton is regarded as world-class, McDonald believes he can match the Queenslander ability-wise and is banking on his knowledge of Ellerslie racecourse and of the intricacies of Zarzuela, the Mark Walker-trained and David Paykel-owned Zabeel filly he has ridden in all but one of her eight starts.

''I haven't been all over the world and competed against the best like Purton has,'' McDonald said.

''He's had experience in Hong Kong Derbies and Australian Cups and races like that. I'm only a Kiwi kid from Cambridge so I haven't tasted that, but going into the New Zealand Derby I've got more experience on the track which will help. I reckon I can hold my own with him on ability.

''I know my horse's capabilities. When I push the button, I know she's going to go. Zac's coming over and has really no idea of his horse except for Lance [O'Sullivan] and Andrew's word on him and he's got to get that feel of his horse 30 seconds before they jump. I've got an advantage over him that way, then it's just down to who gets the luck on the day.''

Zarzuela has won five of her eight starts, including wins in the Gr II Great Northern Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie, the Gr III Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa and the Gr II Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie in her last three starts.

Her rise to stardom in many ways mirrors McDonald's. He has rocketed from a fresh-faced apprentice to become New Zealand's leading jockey in less than three years.

He rode in his first New Zealand Derby last year on Le Baron, the early favourite for the Derby after he won the  Great Northern Guineas, but the horse failed to perform in the Classic, finishing second-last of the 18 runners.

The ride was a disappointing initiation for McDonald in a race he has dreamed of winning   since he first sat on a pony.

However, he is confident he will have a more memorable Derby  tomorrow.

''It was a very rough race last year and I learned you need a lot of luck in the running. If Zarzuela gets that on Saturday she will be a big chance,'' McDonald said.

''She's trained on well since the Championship Stakes. She's fresh and she's looking fantastic. Her trackwork has been good. She hasn't done much. Mark's kept her a bit fresh but she's gone along well.

He's got her in peak order and we're expecting big things on Saturday.

''It's the most prestigious three-year-old race of the year. From day one since I've been a jockey I've always wanted to win a Derby. I thought last year, especially a month out, that it was the year I could win it but as it turned out it wasn't the right year. Hopefully this year ... I'm on the favourite and she's a big chance.''

McDonald said a two-week stint riding in Singapore last August had taken his riding to a new level and the opportunity of testing himself against Purton was even more motivation to succeed this weekend.

''It was a huge confidence boost going up there to Singapore and then coming back to ride in these Gr I races.

''I was just a Kiwi apprentice getting lots of opportunities at home but to go up there, win a few races and compete against Olivier Doleuze    I actually beat him in one race it was an amazing experience.

''There are fantastic jockeys up there and in Hong Kong the jockeys are even another step better   and that's where Zac Purton is. That's a challenge for me one day that I'm really looking forward to.''

McDonald believes Zarzuela could be the break-through horse for his career.

''She's a pretty special horse to me,'' he said. 

''Hopefully she can go to Australia and she could be the horse that gives me a start there and hopefully it will lead me to going there permanently. This could be my stepping stone. This could be the horse to break me into Australia.''

McDonald rates Corporal Jones and Monaco Consul as the pair to beat in tomorrow's Derby but has total confidence that he can guide Zarzuela to success.

''The way Monaco Consul's been working at Matamata, he's definitely one to watch out for. He's won two Gr I races.

''From the draws, Corporal Jones has drawn two inside me, Katie Lee is drawn three inside me, Monaco Consul is five inside. So all the good ones, I'm drawn outside them. Hopefully it means I keep out of trouble and I can get a slot somewhere and following one of those good ones.

''My horse is just off the bit, relaxes, and then she's got an unbelievable turn of foot when you ask her. Last start I used it 300m too early but she still overcame Corporal Jones to win the race. It was a huge effort.

''When she won the Waikato Guineas, she was held up, held up, and came with one last run at them. That's the way to ride her because when you ask her to go, it's just incredible really.

''The first day I sat on her at the trials I said to Gary [Cossey, McDonald's agent] this could be the horse to win us the Oaks and as it has turned out it could be the Derby,  so even better. She always shown us heaps of promise.

''She should run really well. What we've asked of her she's done. When she won the Waikato Guineas she overcome the outside barrier and she came from last and beat Corporal Jones really easily.

''Corporal Jones has improved a lot last start and from what I've heard, he's kept improving so we're going to have to be right on top of our game and hopefully getting a better run than him.

''I'm expecting her to run huge. I'm just going to try  to  give her the best possible run in the race and give her the best chance of getting the luck she deserves to win a Derby. And for the owner and for Mark [Walker] it would be great.

''It would mean the world to me. It's a race I've always idolised the winners of. It's the premier three-year-old race of the year and it would be an unbelievable moment in my career, that's for sure.''

- © Fairfax NZ News