World’s best jockey James McDonald flies in to Perth anxious to break a daunting WA hoodoo in Railway Stakes

The world’s best jockey will undertake a hit-and-run mission on Perth’s Group 1 $1.5 million Swan Draught Railway Stakes (1600m), with champion hoop James McDonald flying in to ride Light Infantry Man at Ascot. McDonald, who has fought out the title of Longines World’s Best Jockey with English hoop Ryan Moore in recent seasons, leads this year’s award 160 points to 150 and gets an opportunity to extend his lead this weekend. The NZ-born and Australian-based rider is currently stationed in Hong Kong but was granted permission to ride at Ascot this Saturday and having won virtually everything else, the 32-year-old dynamo is anxious to break a WA hoodoo. “It is a bit different riding at Ascot, but it is very enjoyable coming over,” McDonald said. “I’ve been there twice now, and I’ve had a little bit of luck but not as much as I’d hope; I rode Zaaki and got beaten on the line. “In terms of the track itself, it’s challenging. It’s a lot faster and nippier around, and the local riders are very equipped to their surroundings. “I’m looking forward to getting the monkey off the back this weekend. “I’ve got a good chance; I have a good barrier and a good horse.” McDonald will pair up with Australia’s leading trainer Ciaron Maher on raider Light Infantry Man, a $4.80 TABtouch favourite after winning the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington during Cup week. “He’s very talented on his day. On his form lines in Europe, he’d be running in Cox Plates, but he lost his way a little bit,” McDonald said. “He finally put a win on the board over the Flemington carnival and that type of horse, he’s a confidence horse. “He was pretty unlucky in a Crystal Mile before that and he races in the first half of the field, so I’d like to be prominent. “He’s trending the right way, and this is near on his grand final. “The mile suits.” The 104-time Group 1 winning jockey had the luxury of choice between key interstate hopefuls Belclare ($6) and Democracy Manifest ($16), who was passed fit to start in a secondary vet examination on Friday. “I had an opportunity to ride Belclare and Democracy Manifest, but I won on this horse last start, and he won well,” McDonald said. “He drops three kilos and only two horses have won with 56kg and above in a lot of years. “He’ll be a popular horse.” McDonald will also ride Luke Fernie’s Skull Bone And Pig ($21) off an ‘unorthodox preparation’ in the WA Guineas (1600m), before returning next week to partner Lady Laguna ($9) in the Winterbottom Stakes. “When I saw the name Skull Bone And Pig, I actually thought this would be quite a cool horse to ride with a name like that,” McDonald said.