D’argento lifts the spirits of McDonald
JAMES McDonald left last weekend’s Rosehill meeting in a state of shock but D’argento can change all that in the $1 million Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The champion jockey narrowly lost the Golden Pendant on Champagne Cuddles and the Group 1 Golden Rose on Zousain at the weekend.
He said winning the last race on The Lord Mayor was a “small consolation” because he still couldn’t believe he hadn’t won the Golden Rose.
After yesterday’s Epsom barrier draw he found out Chris Waller’s grey D’argento would come out of gate one and he couldn’t hide his excitement knowing he was riding the $4 favourite in the big mile.
“He’s as good as you get, especially at the weight,” McDonald said.
“He’s a Group 1 winner with 52.5kg on his back, he’s beaten the handicapper and is trained by Chris which is even better.
“His preparation has been spot on so far with a couple of placings and he’s in this race up to his ears, and there’s no Winx.”
McDonald rode D’argento two starts back when first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
He ran on bravely from the rear of the field to only go down to Winx and Invictus Prince.
“He was three-wide and faced the breeze on a windy day and you couldn’t do that,” McDonald said.
“Hardly anything made ground from out wide that day but he was one of them.”
D’argento will have to beat his highly rated stablemate Unforgotten in the Epsom and she remained a rocksolid $4.50 second favourite with Ladbrokes while Pierata came in from $6 to $5 after one punter had $5000 on him to win before the barrier draw was announced.
They then threw another $2000 on Greg Hickman’s runner after he drew gate four.
McDonald rode D’argento yesterday morning and was more than satisfied.
“D’argento is flying and he’s going to be awfully hard to beat,” he said.
“I worked him over five furlongs (1000m) nice and sharply.
“He came home in the last two very well and I couldn’t be happier with him heading into the race.”
McDonald will also ride Wall Of Fire in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) on Saturday after he drew gate 10 in the 18-horse field.