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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
McDonald: Lazzura will be a future Group 1 winner
SENTrack • August 27th, 2025 6:11 pm
93-time Group 1 winning jockey James McDonald has opened up on some of trainer Chris Waller’s horses ahead of the Spring Racing Carnival.
James McDonald who has a strong partnership with Chris Waller is extremely excited to ride the trainers horses this Carnival, with particular excitement around Joliestar, Lady Shenandoah, Lazzura, and Wodeton.
The 33-year-old spoke with optimism about Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah, stating that they’re ready to make the leap to the next level.
“Chris has got a pretty powerful stable at the moment, we’ve got his mares like Joliestar or Lady Shenandoah,” Mcdonald told SENTrack's Giddy Up.
“They’re very strong and they look like they’re going to take the necessary step, which some of them do and some of them don’t.
“We’re still optimistic that they can come out and perform at a high level and make that necessary leap. It’s good to have them all back.”
The champion jockey also had high praise for Waller’s four-year-old Lazzura, who just won the Group 3 Show County (1200m) on a heavy 10 track.
“She loved that ground, she got through it really well,” McDonald admitted.
“She’s a very good horse in her own right. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s a Group 1 winner in time, waiting in the wings.
“She’s got great tenacity, great will to win and you see her pin her ears back and have a crack.”
McDonald discussed what distance he thinks Lazzura would excel at, but acknowledged that whatever Chris Waller chooses for her, the Mare will do well in.
“Whatever Chris sets her for, I’m sure she’ll be very competitive,” said McDonald.
“No further than a mile, I think seven furlongs would be her best trip. She’s got a lethal turn of foot and she likes to get her toe in the ground.
“She opens a lot of doors, doesn’t she.”
The conversation turned to stablemate Wodeton, who came second in the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m).
McDonald revealed that Wodeton has come back well from his break and is excited to see how the Colt will perform as a three-year-old.
“He’s come back in really good order. He’s very athletic, he’s a nice, clean-winded horse who doesn’t take much to come to hand,” McDonald said.
“He’s been pretty enthusiastic in his trials. He’s a beautiful horse, he just needs to get his head in front in one of these biggies so he can live up to the hype he’s got.
Wodeton will be first-up this Saturday in the 1100m Group 3 San Domenico Stakes, with McDonald himself in the saddle.
While McDonald admitted it’s a tough race for the Colt, he is excited for the challenge ahead.
“It’s a really hot race, the San Domenico,” McDonald revealed.
“A really good bunch of colts. King Of Pop has trialled well, Beiwacht, there’s a couple more.
“(Wodeton) deserves it, he’s a good horse, and I’m looking forward to seeing him as a three-year-old.”
The jockey also mentioned a couple of up-and-coming horses which he trailed, labelling them as ones to watch for the future.
“I trialled two really nice horses of John O’Shea and John Charlton called Napoleonic and Scoop The Pool,” revealed McDonald.
“They’re very nice horses. You’ll probably see them in Melbourne in the Carbine Club, those sort of horses.
“Very talented.”
James McDonald is clearly excited about riding plenty of Chris Waller’s horses this Spring Racing Carnival, so lets see how the duo will perform this spring.
