The New Zealand jockey James McDonald confirmed his super star status at just twenty years-of-age after taking the 2012 BMW Sydney Carnival by storm, including riding a treble on Doncaster Mile Day, by winning the HK$12m, Group 1 BMW Champions Mile (1600m) in Xtension (IRE) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
With precision that earned superlatives from trainer John Moore, winning the race for the fourth time, he had Xtension no further back than fourth the entire race and then worked his way out of a difficult position with 200m to run to win with a half-length in hand. The win maintained Hong Kong's grip on the Champion Mile.
McDonald, 20, who flew into Hong Kong overnight after riding a winner at the Hawkesbury meeting outside Sydney on Saturday, settled Xtension in third on the rails as Able One (NZ) and Jeff Lloyd led the field out followed by Lucky Nine (IRE) and Brett Prebble.
King's Rose (NZ) and Luke Nolan joined Xtension on the outside as they travelled around the bottom bend with a slow place concerning Nolan. Entering the main straight McDonald was following Able One and with Lucky Nine and King's Rose outside there was little room to move.
Able One and Lucky Nine went 2L ahead and but McDonald had to wait patiently for the moment to move outside. Able One was still on control with 200m to run and Glorious Day (AUS) and Felix Coetzee made their bid, but then McDonald moved across three wide for racing room.
One he was in clear racing room he asked Xtension for accelerate. The five-year-old entire responded to McDonald's urgings and they surged forward taking the lead and going forward to take the win.
Glorious Days (Hussonet) were second with Lucky Nine (Dubawi) third, the margin a further half-length. Ambitious Dragon was fourth, Able One fifth and African Story sixth. The $3.20 NSW TAB favourite Cityscape was 10th.
King's Rose finished 11th and trainer Peter Moody said that the mare would return to the Southern Hemisphere to spell, most likely to New Zealand.
““The pace was slow and I really had no choice other than to make a mid-race move but she is a better chaser. Everywhere we went was basically the wrong spot,” said Nolan.
The time was 1.35.23 on the Good rated track. Xtension paid $20.00 on NSW TAB.
“We had the perfect run. Couldn't believe we finished up in such a good spot trailing Able One. He was held up a fraction but it didn't make any difference and I was confident turning for home. It's a great thrill and hopefully I will be back in Hong Kong again,” said McDonald.
“For sure, I'd love to ride him again, he's up there with the best I've ever ridden.
“I got a gorgeous run just behind them and I couldn't believe where we ended up after a few hundred metres. The pace was slow in behind John's other runner (Able One) and even though we got held up a little bit he fought really hard.
“I was very confident approaching the corner - I was just clicking him up slowly. I'd watched his videos and he normally goes through a bit of a flat spot but today he definitely didn't do that, he travelled up like a good thing in the race. We didn't really get daylight until the last furlong and he just felt really good.
“As a kid I've always dreamed of riding in a country like this and with the calibre of jockeys and horses here, it's a real privilege. Hopefully I'll come back one day and be a Dougie Whyte, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before that happens,” he said.
Xtension is by Xaar out of the Grand Lodge mare Great Joy. He came into Sunday's race off a fifth place in the Group 1 Duty Free over 1800m at Meydan on March 31st. His last win was in Champions Mile last year and he was third in the Group 1 Cathay Pacific HK Mile in November.
Owned by Mr and Mrs Steven Lo Kit Sing this was his 14th Hong Kong trained start and second win, With seven placings he has earned stakes of HK$27.4m. Overall he has won four from 22 life-time starts.
“If he's okay, we'll consider heading to Singapore next week for the 2000m (SIA Cup) and James will be asked to ride him again,” revealed Moore. “After that we'll make a decision whether to go on to Royal Ascot for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.”
“The way James rode him was the best ride you've ever seen!” he said. “He got him across, right behind Able One, and got the gun run. At the 200m he had to extricate himself from a pocket but he got out, and the horse showed true courage because he wasn't at his best weight after the Dubai trip - there were a few shortcomings there and a few doubts after the trip but he got to the line really strongly today. We were living in hope – with that great ride, we got home.”
Owner Steven Lo Kit Sing said in a post-race interview that he will discuss with the trainer on which race Xtension should tackle next.
McDonald was asked when in his first year as an apprentice in New Zealand what race he would most like to win and he said a Group 1 race in Hong Kong. That accomplished and currently based in Australia until after the Queensland Winter Carnival McDonald will have much to consider as to where he rides next season.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, hailed an exciting race on a day that saw turnover rise in comparison to same day last year.
“It was a terrific BMW Champions Mile, it was the strongest field we have ever had for the race,” said Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges, “and we were rewarded with a more than exciting race. Xtension came back to his best form and Lucky Nine ran a great race in defeat from Gate 14. We hope now that our horses can go on and perform well overseas.
“The decision to split the BMW Champions Mile and the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, and have this race a week later, has proven to be the right decision. We are delighted the extra week has enabled us to attract horses of the calibre of Cityscape and African Story. Business-wise, we are very happy that today has produced a significant increase in turnover, up by more than 8% to HK$1,121 million.”
