McDonald To Abandon Premiership Bid

Thursday, 15 April 2010 03:07

Top New Zealand rider James McDonald is turning his back on this season's premiership race for a trip that will take him to the leading stables in England and Ireland.

McDonald, 18, leads the New Zealand jockeys' premiership by 10 wins over Mark du Plessis but is sure to be overtaken after he departs on May 8 as he won't return until the start of the new season in August.

His trip is being sponsored by the Vela brothers, Peter and Phillip, owners of New Zealand Bloodstock.

"They have offered me a chance to travel and gain some invaluable world-class experience," McDonald told Truth Weekender.

McDonald has been stable rider for the Vela brothers this season on his way to accumulating 132 winners to date.

His world trip will take him to five countries and he will rub shoulders with racing's elite in Europe, including trainers John Oxx and Sir Michael Stoute.

McDonald, in the third year of a five-year apprenticeship, will ride at the Singapore Gold Cup meeting on May 14 and 16 before taking a holiday in Portugal and France.

He will then head to Ireland for six weeks and stay with top Irish rider Fran Berry, stable rider for champion Irish trainer Oxx.

"Fran Berry will be riding in all the Classics while I'm there and I'll be travelling with him to the races," McDonald said.

"His agent will also try to get me some race rides."

McDonald will then head to Newmarket in England and work for two weeks for 10-time champion trainer Stoute.

"I just think I will come back to New Zealand a better rider," McDonald said.

"I'm hoping I might pick up a ride on some pacemakers over there and they will teach me to be a better judge of pace when I'm in front."

McDonald will finish out the season riding for Singapore's leading trainer, New Zealander Laurie Laxon.

"I'll be back for the start of the season in New Zealand, hopefully better at my job," he said.