McDonald fit for Doomben; Family knowledge does the trick; Sydney campaign beckons

McDonald fit for Doomben

James McDonald will be riding at Doomben on Saturday after a midweek injury scare.

He strained a ligament in his knee during trackwork, but declared himself ready for his Group One engagements following treatment and a work out at the Randwick trials on Friday

McDonald has seven rides at Doomben, including the Chris Waller-trained Foreteller in the $A650,000 Gr.1 Doomben Cup and Godolphin’s Knoydart in the $A500,000 Gr.1 BTC Cup.

Arc entry for Criterion

New Zealand-bred and owned five-year-old Criterion has been nominated for one of the world’s premier staying events.

The Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner has been entered for the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.

The Sir Owen Glenn-raced Criterion is in England preparing for the Gr.1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 17.

Family knowledge does the trick

Joseph Pride has used his intimate knowledge of the New Zealand-bred three-year-old Champagne Rein’s pedigree to good effect.

The Warwick Farm trainer produced the half-brother to the Group Three-winning sprinter Mosse to triumph at his Australian debut at Gosford on Thursday.

The son of Captain Rio is from the family of Pride’s top sprinting trio of Terravista, Tiger Tees and Ball Of Muscle.

Champagne Rein collected a win and two placings in four starts for Graeme and Debbie Rogerson before he was transferred to Sydney.

Sydney campaign beckons

A trip to Sydney could become a reality for Mako if he performs up to expectations in Saturday’s Gr.3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup.

The last-start Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup placegetter is trained by part-owner Dan O’Leary, who has tentative plans for the gelding to join Chris Waller’s stable.

They already have a successful association in place through the deeds of the Melbourne and Sydney Cup-performed stayer Who Shot Thebarman.