Site crafted and built by Kick Collective
Source: racing.com
James McDonald has set a new record for Group 1s won in a single season, as hot favourite Tron Bolt showed his class in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday,
The son of Toronado jumped a $1.80 chance, travelled well in midfield and found plenty once clear, growing stronger as the mile went on and saluting over Cormier ($6.50), who was brave from the box-seat.
McDonald, who has secured the G1 Queensland Derby and G1 Doomben Cup for Chris Waller in recent weeks, picked up his 17th G1 win of 2025/26 in the process.
The superstar hoop was modest about taking Malcolm Johnston’s record post-race and said he is fortunate to be riding high-class gallopers week-in week-out, both established and rising.
Tron Bolt is firmly in the former category, scooping a G1 honour at just his fourth start, in his first racing preparation.
“I feel very humbled and privileged to be in this position. To ride horses like that who give me great rides, I thought he was exceptional today. It is nice to stand alone,” McDonald reflected.
“He’s got a cool head on his shoulders and takes everything in his stride. It wasn’t a really smoothly run race, but from the thousand to the 400m, he just conserves energy, he doesn’t spend a penny.
“Chris has always had a high opinion of him. When I spoke to him about riding which horse (Tron Bolt or Stormy Marco) , he said “I think you just have to ride him.”
Waller was delighted to win a race that has been pivotal to the development of several former stable stars, and identified the Caulfield Guineas as a likely spring target.
“It’s the race that we pick out from a long way out. It’s an integral part of the Queensland Winter Carnival, it’s been a massive stepping stone for a lot of our great horses,” he said.
“Even without winning it, Brazen Beau ran second, Zoustar ran second, they’ve come out to be multiple Group 1 winners and champion sires. It really is a neat race.
“He’s a lovely type and his type suggests to me that he is a miler. He’s not an out-and-out sprinter but he is good enough to win shorter races as well. It’ll be exciting to see where he heads.”