Yucatan the best so far, says McDonald
LEADING jockey James McDonald, who watched last year’s Melbourne Cup from the saddle of a bicycle rather than on horseback, maintains on exposed form this spring Yucatan Ire has the measure of his Melbourne Cup rivals.
“Any horse that has competed here in Australia this spring that is running in the Melbourne Cup I don’t think can beat him,’’ McDonald said.
“But there are three unknowns, Cross Counter, Magic Circle and Marmelo, to worry about.’’
You can also throw in Muntahaa from the international contingent, who will go straight into the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday without a lead-up run.
Yucatan Ire, among a potential record number of northern hemisphere-trained stayers being set for the Cup, has at least had a run in Melbourne this spring, winning the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 13.
The Aidan O’Brientrained stayer raced under his original name of Yucatan at Caulfield but there is a threeyear-old trained in South Australia with the same name and, under the rules of racing, it required a change of name for the overseas raider.
McDonald is not worried about the name change because he feels he is on the right horse.
“I was talking to Mick Kinane, who has won a Melbourne Cup (1993 on Vintage Crop), and he said Yucatan Ire does look the one to beat,’’ he said.
“We want a bit of luck in running, he is going to need that, but I do feel he is definitely the one to beat.’’
McDonald, a two-time Melbourne Cup placegetter on Fiorente (second in 2012) and Hartnell (third in 2016), missed the big race last year as he was serving a riding ban because of a betting-related offence.
When the big race was run, McDonald was doing a bike ride adjacent to the Flemington racetrack and stopped near the 1400m point of the course and watched the Cup field charge by.
“I was watching from over the fence on the (cycle) bridge last year,’’ McDonald said.
“It’s very enjoyable to be a part of Cup week again.
“It’s a unique week.’’
I WAS WATCHING FROM OVER THE FENCE ON THE (CYCLE) BRIDGE LAST YEAR JAMES McDONALD