McDonald chasing a share of G1 riding crown in Tiara

James McDonald will bid to equal a national riding record that has stood for 45 years.

James Mcdonald has a final chance to equal the Australian riding record for most number of Group 1 wins in a season when he combines with Firestorm in the Tattersall's Tiara.

The star hoop has claimed 15 majors during the 2024-25 racing term and if he can add Saturday's Eagle Farm feature – the final Group 1 race of the season - he will equal the feat achieved by Malcolm Johnston in 1979-80.

The mare remains a $4.20 favourite despite drawing barrier 19 and will be one of up to four runners for Chris Waller along with Olentia, Konasana and emergency Gumdrops.

Waller's assistant, Charlie Duckworth, believes Firestorm has the right profile for the race and just needs a genuine speed to produce her best.

"She has got exceptional form behind Lady Shenandoah in the Coolmore (Classic) and then in the Doncaster Mile, they just didn't go quick enough for her to feature. She needs a bit of tempo on," Duckworth said.

"Her first-up run the other day was brilliant. It wasn't a very hard run either so she has bounced through that.

"She went to the farm for a couple of days and came back and she has done really well."

Firestorm was given a light autumn, winning the Mille Fox Stakes (1300m) and beating all but stablemate Lady Shenandoah in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) before her unplaced run in the Doncaster Mile (1600m).

She was doing her best work late when third to Saturday's Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) rival Floozie in the Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) and Duckworth is expecting McDonald to be hungry, not only to equal Johnston's record, but to ensure his afternoon is worthwhile.

"James is only riding three on the day so he is going to have to make them all count," Duckworth quipped.

Olentia is coming off a below par effort in the Dane Ripper Stakes but Duckworth cautions "she is a better horse than that," while both Konasana and Gumdrops have continued to please the stable.

Konasana finished fourth in a brace of Group 1 races in New Zealand earlier this year and her connections are keen to have another throw at the stumps.

"She was unlucky not to win a Group One in New Zealand so she is on the hunt for that elusive race," Duckworth said.

15:58

TATTERSALL'S TIARA - GROUP 1 (G1)

Sex: FM Type: OPEN

AUD $700,000

1400m TURF GOOD

15:58
(local)

AUD $700,000

1400m GOOD

TATTERSALL'S TIARA - GROUP 1 (G1)

Sex: FM Type: OPEN

Silk

Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam

Jockey
Trainer

SP
WT

1st

13. TASHI (AUS) 5yo M
SEBRING (AUS) - GHENWAA (AUS)

TOM SHERRY
PETER SNOWDEN

$7.5
57kg

Corumbene Stud Pty Ltd (Mgr: G Altomonte), G Altomonte, A G Altomonte, G Severino, T Altomonte & Mrs J Altomonte

2nd

8. ABOUNDING (AUS) 4yo M
RICH ENUFF (AUS) - TRANSONIC (AUS)

JAKE BAYLISS
ROBERT HEATHCOTE

$19
57kg

First Light Racing Pty Ltd, F L R Pretty Mixed, Frazelstone, The Big Boys, Hunter Boys, G J Walker, P R Harris, B M Carroll, G C Daniels, Miss H Beresowskyj, J F Lawrence, Miss N T Fletcher, G W Jones, Platinum Darling, D I Hollyman, Mrs T M Kenny, J Ebert, A G A Eastaughfee & Dr F Carnovale

Sales Information
\| Magic Millions \| 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (1024) \| Telemon Thoroughbreds, Innisplain, Qld (As Agent) \| First Light Racing/Robert Heathcote Racing \| AUD $ 75,000		2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (1024)	Telemon Thoroughbreds, Innisplain, Qld (As Agent)	First Light Racing/Robert Heathcote Racing	AUD $ 75,000

3rd

4. OLENTIA (AUS) 5yo M
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - MABKHARA (AUS)

DAMIEN THORNTON
CHRIS WALLER

$31
57kg

Star Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: Ms D J Martin), Paramount Racing (Mgr: Ms K M Wood), M I Ive, Mrs R A Ive, R J Cheetham, J M Rosenthal, Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Ms D A Dunphy), Felgate Holdings (Mgr: P D Felgate), C G O Racing, D Reed, B C Russell & R B T Aurisch

Sales Information
\| Magic Millions \| 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (501) \| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, Nsw (As Agent) \| Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency P/L (Fbaa) \| AUD $ 310,000		2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (501)	Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, Nsw (As Agent)	Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency P/L (Fbaa)	AUD $ 310,000

4th

18. EXOTIQUE MISS (AUS) 4yo M
UNDER THE LOUVRE (AUS) - OUTLANDISH (AUS)

RACHEL KING
MICHAEL NOLAN

$51
57kg

Sales Information
\| Magic Millions \| 2022 Capricornia Yearling Sale (4) \| Raheen Stud, Darling Downs, Qld \| Psd. AUD $ 14,000 Res. AUD $ 20,000		2022 Capricornia Yearling Sale (4)	Raheen Stud, Darling Downs, Qld	Psd. AUD $ 14,000	Res. AUD $ 20,000

5th

10. FLOOZIE (AUS) 4yo M
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - CATCHY (AUS)

ANGELA JONES
TONY GOLLAN

$3.2
57kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2022 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (101) \| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone \| WITHDRAWN		2022 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (101)	Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone	Withdrawn

6th

11. INFANCY (AUS) 4yo M
WANDJINA (AUS) - CHILDHOOD (USA)

JASON COLLETT
KRIS LEES

$26
57kg

7th

5. FIRESTORM (NZ) 4yo M
SATONO ALADDIN (JPN) - DANCING EMBERS (NZ)

JAMES MCDONALD
CHRIS WALLER

$5
57kg

8th

7. BUBBA'S BAY (AUS) 5yo M
CABLE BAY (IRE) - LIFT ALL BOATS (AUS)

ANDREW MALLYON
KRIS LEES

$41
57kg

Sales Information
\| Magic Millions \| 2021 Adelaide Yearling Sale (243) \| Bowness Stud, Young, Nsw \| Gwenda Markwell \| AUD $ 130,000		2021 Adelaide Yearling Sale (243)	Bowness Stud, Young, Nsw	Gwenda Markwell	AUD $ 130,000

9th

15. COCO JAMBOO (IRE) 5yo M
MASSAAT (IRE) - BETA TAURI (USA)

CHAD SCHOFIELD
ANNABEL & ROB ARCHIBALD

$21
57kg

Sales Information
\| Tattersalls \| 2023 December Mare Sale (1575) \| Prestige Place (M. Botti) \| Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock \| GNS 160,000		2023 December Mare Sale (1575)	Prestige Place (M. Botti)	Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock	GNS 160,000
\| Tattersalls \| 2021 December Yearling Sale (179) \| Foston Stud \| Marco Botti \| GNS 30,000		2021 December Yearling Sale (179)	Foston Stud	Marco Botti	GNS 30,000

10th

17. EL MORZILLO (AUS) 3yo F
STAR WITNESS (AUS) - AVOCADO (AUS)

TOMMY BERRY
KELLY SCHWEIDA

$21
55.5kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2023 Classic Yearling Sale (265) \| Widden Stud, Widden Valley \| K Schweida \| AUD $ 50,000		2023 Classic Yearling Sale (265)	Widden Stud, Widden Valley	K Schweida	AUD $ 50,000

11th

1. SEMANA (AUS) 5yo M
WINNING RUPERT (AUS) - FESTIVITY (AUS)

ROBBIE DOLAN
CIARON MAHER

$61
57kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2025 Chairman's Sale (10) \| Ciaron Maher Racing, Melbourne, Vic \| Walnut Farm \| AUD $ 1,550,000		2025 Chairman's Sale (10)	Ciaron Maher Racing, Melbourne, Vic	Walnut Farm	AUD $ 1,550,000
\| Magic Millions \| 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (301) \| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, Nsw (As Agent) \| James Bester Bloodstock/Vantage Thoroughbreds \| AUD $ 200,000		2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (301)	Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, Nsw (As Agent)	James Bester Bloodstock/Vantage Thoroughbreds	AUD $ 200,000

12th

9. COCO SUN (AUS) 4yo M
THE AUTUMN SUN (AUS) - MISS HUFFLEPUFF (AUS)

BILLY EGAN
TONY & CALVIN MCEVOY

$91
57kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2025 Chairman's Sale (48) \| Sledmere Stud, Scone \| Z Zhijun \| AUD $ 1,200,000		2025 Chairman's Sale (48)	Sledmere Stud, Scone	Z Zhijun	AUD $ 1,200,000
\| Inglis \| 2022 Classic Yearling Sale (82) \| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks \| Mcevoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (Fbaa) \| AUD $ 250,000		2022 Classic Yearling Sale (82)	Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks	Mcevoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (Fbaa)	AUD $ 250,000

13th

3. KONASANA (AUS) 4yo M
DUNDEEL (NZ) - POSING (USA)

REGAN BAYLISS
CHRIS WALLER

$41
57kg

14th

14. ZASZOU (AUS) 4yo M
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - ZASORCERESS (NZ)

RYAN MALONEY
PHILLIP STOKES

$18
57kg

Sales Information
\| Magic Millions \| 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (708) \| Kitchwin Hills, Scone, Nsw (As Agent) \| Bennett Racing \| AUD $ 200,000		2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (708)	Kitchwin Hills, Scone, Nsw (As Agent)	Bennett Racing	AUD $ 200,000

15th

16. ARCTIC GLAMOUR (AUS) 4yo M
FROSTED (USA) - FARTOO FLASHY (AUS)

KERRIN MCEVOY
GERALD RYAN & STERLING ALEXIOU

$31
57kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2022 Premier Yearling Sale (512) \| Noorilim Park, Arcadia \| Ryan & Alexiou Racing \| AUD $ 185,000		2022 Premier Yearling Sale (512)	Noorilim Park, Arcadia	Ryan & Alexiou Racing	AUD $ 185,000

16th

6. COEUR VOLANTE (NZ) 4yo M
PROISIR (AUS) - SHANINA (AUS)

JORDAN CHILDS
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES

$31
57kg

Sales Information
\| NZB \| 2022 Karaka - Book 1 (568) \| Prima Park \| Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Ballymore Stables \| NZD $ 90,000		2022 Karaka - Book 1 (568)	Prima Park	Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Ballymore Stables	NZD $ 90,000

17th

2. GRINZINGER BELLE (NZ) 4yo M
SHAMEXPRESS (NZ) - RIPSOMEMORE (NZ)

TIM CLARK
DANNY O'BRIEN

$8.5
57kg

Sales Information
\| Inglis \| 2025 Chairman's Sale (66) \| Widden Stud, Widden Valley \| Z Zhijun \| AUD $ 1,450,000		2025 Chairman's Sale (66)	Widden Stud, Widden Valley	Z Zhijun	AUD $ 1,450,000
\| NZB \| 2022 Karaka - Book 2 (1022) \| Windsor Park Stud \| Mr Jr Wheeler \| NZD $ 32,000		2022 Karaka - Book 2 (1022)	Windsor Park Stud	Mr Jr Wheeler	NZD $ 32,000

McDonald chasing a share of G1 riding crown in Tiara

Eagle Farm

Saturday, 28th June 2025

TATTERSALL'S TIARA - GROUP 1 (G1)

TATTERSALL'S TIARA - GROUP 1 (G1)

Related Articles

Something went wrong!