McDonald strikes in maiden Kranji appearance

SINGAPORE,  21 Aug 2009
 
James McDonald signals No. 1 as he crosses the line on NOBLE
MANOR - SNTC photo
 

New Zealand's latest riding sensation James McDonald was quick to show the Kranji crowd the stuff he is made of when he booted home NOBLE MANOR to win the Class 2 - 1200m sprint on the polytrack here tonight.

Here on a two-day riding stint, his second outside of New Zealand, McDonald took just five rides to greet the judges on a horse provided by fellow kiwi Laurie Laxon.

McDonald came close to winning at the Gold Coast in Australia last May and he nearly made the breakthrough a race prior when his mount BENGAWAN was beaten a head by DORAEMON, the mount of Oliver Doleuze who took riding honours with a treble tonight.

But McDonald made no mistake with NOBLE MANOR (Stravinsky - Sarwatch by Jetball) who easily defeated the odds-on favourite MOORING by one and a half lengths for his fifth win in 13 starts.

In the recently concluded season in New Zealand, McDonald won both the senior and apprentice premierships with a haul of 125 wins. It was only his second full season in the saddle.

The 17-year-old has already chalked up two Group 1 victories, the 2008 Breeders Stakes on SPECIAL MISSION and the 2009 New Zealand Oaks on JUNGLE ROCKET, and a career total of 220 wins.

"He is a very polished rider for such a young man,” said Laxon. “There hasn’t been anyone in New Zealand to do what he has done in such a short time."

"It is not a busy time at the moment back home and I thought it was a good opportunity to come up here and get some more experience,” said McDonald of his decision to come to Singapore.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 MAIDEN - 1600M (POLYTRACK)

5

 Good General D Koh Woodworth

1

9

 Eleventh Avenue H K Tan Saifudin

2

2

 Solar Energy L Treloar V Duric

3

7

 Little Red S Nigishi Kellady

4

2

 C (POLYTRACK)

9

 Powerful Tree S Chua Chavez

1

8

 My Papparich B Dean V Duric

2

7

 Kukai H Takaoka Zaki

3

2

 Cabrera S Burridge J Moreira

4

3

 NOVICE - 1600M (POLYTRACK)

7

 Wonder B Marsh Saimee

1

8

 Daad's The Way S Gray J Moreira

2

4

 Special Account B Dean Aslam

3

1

 Gentlemen's Honour D Koh O Doleuze

4

4

 INITIATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

11

 Bel's Ringer J Meagher O Doleuze

1

4

 My Ninja Baertschiger J Powell

2

9

 Super Knight B Dean M Gallagher

3

8

 Snow Wine D Koh Soo

4

5

 CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)

1

 Big Momoko L Laxon T H Koh

1

12

 Palmston S Chua Sivan

2

8

 Sacred S Chua I Andy

3

7

 Shen Wong S Chua Chavez

4

6

 CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

8

 Doraemon D Koh O Doleuze

1

3

 Bengawan S Chua J McDonald

2

10

 South Star H Takaoka E Legrix

3

6

 Gold Help S Burridge V Duric

4

7

 CLASS 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

6

 Noble Manor L Laxon J McDonald

1

7

 Mooring M Freedman J Moreira

2

1

 Amadeus Mozart P Shaw B Vorster

3

10

 Monkey Man J Meagher Saimee

4

8

 MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

11

 Good Good Luck S Chua Chavez

1

9

 World Famousman L Laxon J Powell

2

7

 Drunken Hero Khoo D Chee

3

1

 Incredible Son S Nigishi J Moreira

4

9

 CLASS 3 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

3

 Perfect Sky D Koh O Doleuze

1

4

 Big Choice L Laxon Saimee

2

6

 Super Fighter S Chua Kellady

3

2

 I Tawt I Taw M Freedman V Duric

4