Racing: Kiwi champs ready to hit track

Sydney's champion jockey James McDonald (blue top). Photo / Getty Images

Two champions of this racing season will be seen again around the traps in the next few weeks, but neither will be appearing on New Zealand tracks.

Dual Derby winner Mongolian Khan will begin a Melbourne Cup campaign early next week and Sydney's champion jockey James McDonald will be making a couple of trips back to New Zealand before heading to ride in England for the Northern Hemisphere summer.

McDonald will be making a couple of trips home to see family and friends and flying back to Queensland for the next few Saturdays to complete engagements at that carnival before heading to England after the Stradbroke Handicap on June 6.

He heads the Sydney jockeys' ladder with 85 wins, 5 wins ahead of Hugh Bowman and concedes his English trip will cost him the premiership.

"I really wanted to ride 100 winners in Sydney this season and if I had stayed I think I probably would have, but riding our winter in England is the reason I took the Godolphin contract," said McDonald.

One of McDonald's intentions is to ride for Charles Hills. "This is a great opportunity for me, it's one I've dreamed of. Charles is a friend and Godolphin have been kind enough to allow me to take rides from him.

"Richard has more than 150 horses in work so I shouldn't lack for rides and I'm very excited about riding at Royal Ascot and Goodwood."

McDonald rides Rustic Melody in Saturday's Queensland Oaks and rates himself a real winning chance against the favourite, Bohemian Lady.

"The race will be run quickly and that's going to suit my filly who is a good stayer. She finished fourth in the Oaks in Sydney and I think she will be right in the finish this time."

It does not seem long since Mongolian Khan won the Australian Derby at Randwick under Opie Bosson, but co-trainer Murray Baker says the colt has had sufficient time away from racing.

"If he's going to run in the Melbourne Cup he needs to get under way pretty quickly. The Cup comes around a lot quicker than you think each year and you can't win it if you're not ready."

Having to start a Melbourne Cup preparation now is great evidence why it is extremely difficult to campaign a horse at the Queensland Winter Carnival then give it enough of a break before kicking off a Melbourne spring preparation.

Mongolian Khan is in strong contention for Horse Of The Year honours, being the first horse since Bonecrusher to win the Derbys at Ellerslie and Randwick.

"He looks very well, I've been out to see him and I'm very satisfied," said Baker. "He's a great stayer and he's got tactical speed, just the type for a Melbourne Cup."

These days with saturated European involvement, it is difficult simply to get a New Zealand horse into the Melbourne Cup field. Mongolian Khan is certain to get a start and his weighing by the handicapper will be interesting as a double Derby winner.

Baker said it is "extremely doubtful" Mongolian Khan will start in New Zealand. "It's almost certain he will go straight to Australia."

It's common knowledge that Mongolian Khan had a prickly temperament away from the track in his three-year-old preparation, but Baker says there are improvements in that area. "He settled down a lot when we had to make moves to turn his form around in Sydney -- the swimming improved his attitude. He's not too bad, he's just a little touchy."

Turn Me Loose has also rejoined the Baker/Forsman team. He has not raced since winning the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, which followed his Hawkes Bay Guineas victory.

"He copped a very bad virus after the 2000 Guineas. We gave him a break, brought him back in for a month's work then spelled him again.

"He's probably New Zealand's second best 3-year-old."