Rosehill: The Day of James McDonald
J-Mac Breaks the All-Time Group 1 Record
Heading into the day, James McDonald needed two wins to surpass Damien Oliver’s long-standing record of 129 Group 1 victories. He didn’t just break it; he shattered it with a clinical hat-trick of elite-level wins.
- Ranvet Stakes (2000m): McDonald equalled the record aboard the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana ($1.65), who fought off a resilient Lindermann to win by a short neck.
- Rosehill Guineas (2000m): The record was officially broken in the very next race. McDonald steered Autumn Boy ($2.40) to a dominant nearly 2-length victory, surpassing Oliver with his 130th Group 1 win.
- George Ryder Stakes (1500m): For good measure, he extended the record to 131 aboard the undefeated superstar Autumn Glow ($1.30), who made it 11 wins from 11 starts in a professional display.
Golden Slipper Stakes: Guest House Causes $11 Upset
The world’s richest two-year-old race, the $5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), was won by the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Guest House ($11).
Ridden by young star Zac Lloyd, the Victorian colt found himself 11th at the top of the straight. Lloyd stayed patient, picking a path through a wall of horses to spear the son of Home Affairs to the front, winning by 1.37 lengths. Blue Diamond winner Streisand ran a brave second, while Music Time ($34) filled the minor placing. The pre-race favorite Chayan ($5.50) finished a disappointing 8th.
Caulfield: Jigsaw’s Sprinting Masterclass
While the Group 1 action was thick in Sydney, Melbourne hosted the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The evergreen seven-year-old Jigsaw ($5.50) made it six wins on the trot with a blistering front-running display. Ridden by apprentice Logan Bates for trainer Cindy Alderson, Jigsaw led from a wide gate and refused to be headed, denying Angel Capital by a half-length. The heavily backed favorite Jimmysstar ($2.20) failed to find clear air from his inside draw and finished 7th.
Quick Results Summary
| Race | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Slipper | Guest House ($11) | Zac Lloyd | Price/Kent Jnr |
| William Reid Stakes | Jigsaw ($5.50) | Logan Bates | Cindy Alderson |
| George Ryder Stakes | Autumn Glow ($1.30) | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| Rosehill Guineas | Autumn Boy ($2.40) | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| Ranvet Stakes | Aeliana ($1.65) | James McDonald | Chris Waller |