22 August 2026

Sure J Mc Donald has a sense of humour he needs it , just back from a glorious holiday in England. He did not expect to come back to Oz for anything but the same old win after win. Anointed by Channel7 as the best jockey in the world replacing Jamie Kah as the best jockey in the world he has arrived with the Top yard of Chris Waller out of form. He might still be holidaying in Europe, Ciaron Maher also had a holiday in the UK etc but his yard is firing big time who needs the English guy now in lazy town Hong Kong.

The above was written on August 22, Chris Waller’s figures 40 days later do not look any more encouraging according to my points table which awards points for wins and placings.

Trainers close to Waller in numbers of runners are Tony Gollan in Qeensland and Ciaron Maher in Victoria. My table may not recognise that perhaps Chris Waller is providing more runners in chosen races by percentage than he may have been in previous years. that is a subject for close research.

The Breeders Cup has now finished with some significant outcomes. Forever Young the International Japanese Star has forgotten his own name and may have succumbed to age as did Romantic Warrior his vanquished challenger, since he was well beaten by a Star owned by Godolphin and raced in the USA. Sovereign

A new Japanese horse has a look of a Champion in T O Elvis a sprinter,

From Ireland Benvenuto Cellini won the race designed to encourage Europeans to compete and looks like a new representative for Franklin. Racing in Peter Brandts colours Green.

Although I enjoyed that MacDonald had an unusual start when resuming here in Australia after his enjoyable holiday in the UK. After August this year it was clear the it was up till now Ciaron Maher’s year as dominant trainer. Waller has not become the largest monopolistic trainer in Australia by going easy, one suspects he does not so much enjoy holidays, nor does he ski perhaps and he certainly was never an actress. Come Melbourne Cup festival he managed to fire all guns blazing (perhaps not all yet) McDonald had winners but don’t forget his previous Saturdays.

Why that has happened to Macdonald is unclear my first thoughts are that Waller has used many alternative jockeys and could be rewarding loyalty. Perhaps the MacDonalds believe England is all wonderful, but there is no money to be made there riding up and down the country.

One thing I must look at again in the case of Waller, he had no less than 40 runners across the country yesterday. This is unlikely anywhere else in the world and has all to do with distance.