James McDonald’s book for Day 1 of The Championships

James McDonald will have a full book of rides when Sydney’s premier rider steps out on Day 1 of The Championships.

J-Mac locked in Cascadian last week for the Doncaster Mile and was always going to partner Nature Strip in the TJ Smith especially with Home Affairs out of the $2.5 million contest.

He’s also picked up the ride about Showcourt in the Sires, a colt that has won a trial since finishing fourth behind Serajan in the Todman Stakes.

Murwillumbah-trained gelding Far Too Easy is a leading hope in the Country Championships Final and McDonald will partner the three-year-old for the first time. This is a horse that qualified for the final after winning the Grafton heat following a gallant fourth in the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas in January.

Kiwi raider Regal Lion will look to go one better than he did in the Tulloch Stakes when he lines up in the Australian Derby with McDonald aboard.

McDonald’s other rides include Me Me Lagarde in the PJ Bell, Roots in the Adrian Knox, Voldemort in the Kindergarten Stakes and Coastwatch in the Carbine Club Stakes.