Champion jockey James McDonald has brought up his 100th Sydney metropolitan win of the season and fittingly, he has done it aboard a horse trained by long-time supporter Chris Waller.
McDonald found himself stranded on 99 after he booted home Tinnie Winnie (So You Think) for Waller at Canterbury on May 25 then didn’t get a chance to add to his tally when he rode in Brisbane on the weekend.
But the expat kiwi wasted no time chasing down his goal at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, guiding Pretty Wild (Brazen Beau) to a promising debut win in the opening race and celebrating the moment with a small fist pump after the post.
“I’ve done it. It was a bit of a relief,” McDonald said.
“It was good to do it on Chris’ horse, who’s obviously very smart.
“She just went about her business really well and scooted through that heavy ground and importantly, came here nice and fit.”
It is the fourth season in succession that McDonald has reached a century of Sydney wins, a feat achieved by only one other jockey.
Darren Beadman was equally dominant during his reign as Sydney’s champion rider, booting home more than 100 city winners in six consecutive seasons from 2001-02 to 2006-07.
Beadman also rode a more than 100 Sydney winners when he claimed back-to-back titles in 1994-95 and 1995-96.
