Waller hopeful JMac will stick with big guns but no pressure from master trainer

Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller is relying on stable loyalty swaying champion jockey James McDonald to select superstars Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip as his big-race rides this spring carnival.

McDonald is the nation’s most in-demand jockey and as the regular rider of middle distance champs Verry Elleegant and Zaaki, plus exciting sprinters Nature Strip and Lost And Running, there is a real tug of war for his services.

Coolmore also has McDonald as a contracted rider and could complicate the jockey’s call for The TAB Everest if the racing and breeding giant have a sprinter ready to take on Nature Strip and Lost And Running in the world’s richest turf race.

But McDonald does the bulk of the riding for the Waller stable and the trainer is hoping that will influence the jockey’s decision-making for the spring carnival.

“I haven’t spoken to James about it yet,” Waller said of McDonald’s spring rides dilemma.

“But I want him on my best horses in the big races.

“If it is a 50-50 call, I’m hoping he will stick with loyalty and stay on Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip.

“But as John Hawkes would say there are plenty of jockeys out there.”

There is no immediate pressure on McDonald to make any early decisions although he will get the chance to put Horse of the Year-elect Verry Elleegant through her paces at the Randwick barrier trials on Tuesday.

Verry Elleegant, winner of eight Group 1 races and more than $8.5 million in prizemoney, contests an all-star 900m heat that includes Golden Slipper hero Stay Inside, Group 1 winners Think It Over, Kolding and Selino, plus proven topliners Brandenburg, Icebath and Riodini.

Waller said Verry Elleegant is on target to resume in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 21.

As a rising six-year-old mare, Verry Elleegant is physically fully matured now but Waller said the mare does seem more settled so far this preparation.

“The first hint we got was (last) Saturday morning when she galloped and was a touch more relaxed,” Waller said.

“She is not really set up for races with a slow pace and it arguably cost her winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (second to Addeybb).

“But she is spot on, she has come back well and is a great horse to train because she is so versatile. She is competitive at all distances.”

Waller said he will be having a meeting with Verry Elleegant’s owners this week to discuss the mare’s spring program and decide whether to concentrate on the Cox Plate or include the Melbourne Cup.

Also trialling at Randwick on Tuesday is Waller’s dual Group 1 winner Hungry Heart in a 740m heat against the likes of Dreamforce, Forbidden Love, Four Moves Ahead and Adelong.

She’s All Class, a stablemate of Verry Elleegant and Hungry Heart, is in the other Group-class trial over 740m where her rivals include Mazu, Fituese, Xtremetime and Glistening.

#McDonald and Hugh Bowman will be interviewed by Racing NSW stewards on Tuesday to determine if either jockey contravened Covid-19 health orders protocols during a Queensland holiday last month.

Originally published asNo pressure on JMac for spring rides

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