Racing: McDonald confirms rating

Willing Foe (outer) works with stablemate Cavalryman at Werribee. Photo / Getty Images

Classy New Zealand jockey now recognised worldwide as he dons Godolphin colours.

James McDonald took perhaps his final step towards being a truly international jockey at the weekend and isn't quite sure he's comfortable with it.

When the New Zealand current superstar rider of Australian racing is legged on to Godolphin runner Willing Foe in this afternoon's A$6.2 million Melbourne Cup it will be the first proper look he will have had of the horse.

The only previous experience was a 15-second glance at Willing Foe at the Werribee quarantine station during the press conference on Sunday morning.

McDonald was enjoying a cup of coffee in the Werribee grandstand when he spied a horse doing quiet work in the home straight. He threw down his cup and said: "This is my Melbourne Cup horse," as he ran outside.

It wasn't, it was another European, Gatewood.

Five minutes later leaning over a steel rail five metres from the outside Werribee running rail Willing Foe and Godolphin's second Cup runner Cavalryman trotted past.

"He's small, isn't he," was the only observation McDonald could make out looking directly into a background of strong morning sun.

That's about the only information McDonald will be armed with as he goes into the world's greatest handicap race on Willing Foe.

Truly international jockeys, like Cox Plate winning rider Ryan Moore, Brazilian whiz Jaoa Moreira, Gerald Mosse and others are expected to regularly ride horses they have no association with.

"It feels weird, it's something I'm not used to, especially for a race like this," said McDonald.

So, you haven't been contacted by Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor? "No."

You would be less worried by this with McDonald than just about any other jockey you can think of. The Cambridge-reared young man has that magical quality of champions that allows them to operate outside the square and somehow make that work.

They don't require luck, they make their own.

It's somewhat reassuring for McDonald that a global operation as huge as Godolphin has the confidence in him to get the job done with a minimum of assistance.

Welcome to the top rung of international jockeys.

Certainly as he walked back to his coffee, McDonald seemed not worried about what lay ahead. He did say though that the hype of the week-long Melbourne Cup build-up is extremely draining.

"You know, the race itself is almost the easiest part of the whole thing. It's the adrenaline build-up that starts to get to you. When I had my first of two Cup rides a couple of years ago the race itself was like a blur and I finished placed on Fiorente, but I was as nervous as hell going into the race."

Halfway back to the grandstand Red Cadeaux's talented English trainer Ed Dunlop greets McDonald with a big smile, a familiar handshake and: "Gidday superstar, you've been killing 'em."

McDonald's lack of ego allowed him only a shoulder shrug.

"Coming back to Newmarket again next year during your winter?" asks Dunlop.

"Yes," says McDonald, "probably for three months."

"Want a job?"

"Yes," says McDonald. "Good, call me," said Dunlop as he walked away.

Great things in international horse racing can be born of such brief moments. As they well could be in the 3 minutes just after 5.00pm today.