James McDonald identifies likenesses linking Yulong’s priciest recent import Barnavara to superstar mare Via Sistina, with the former set for a challenging Sydney introduction.
The elite rider – fresh from three Group 1 successes at Rosehill Saturday that elevated his Australian tally to 131, overtaking Damien Oliver’s 129 – clocked time at Canterbury Quarantine on Tuesday, piloting Barnavara through a workout.
He waited until Via Sistina’s Australian premiere in the 2024 Ranvet Stakes for his initial mount, a dominant victory, yet spots resemblances in her imported form and that of Barnavara.
“I didn’t work Via before that first run. My first ride on her was the Ranvet, so I can’t really draw comparisons, but one thing I would say by looking at their form lines, they’re so consistent,” McDonald said.
“Via was probably running in better races, but this one is more lightly raced and unexposed, and her form reads so beautifully. She never puts a bad run in, and that’s what Via came out with as well.”
To southern hemisphere reckoning, Barnavara is a four-year-old mare bought by Yulong Investments for $A10.1 million equivalent at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, topping filly-in-training sales last year.
Victor of a French Group 1 at 2000m last time out, she headed to Chris Waller’s Rosehill base later Tuesday, targeting the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) over the weekend.
McDonald galloped her at Canterbury Friday too, highlighting her sharp uptick in condition.
“Beautiful mare. Great appetite for work, she loves her work, and she was a little bit stuffy then. The last (four) days, she has come on immensely,” he said.
“She feels really, really good, and I’d expect a huge performance from her this Saturday in the Neville Sellwood, that’s for sure.”
A new face like Barnavara enlivens the carnival for McDonald, who values riding such premium stock.
“It’s like unwrapping another Christmas present every weekend,” he said.
“We’re lucky they keep coming and we’re in a position to be able to ride them.
“When I came out here on Friday, the day before the Slipper, I was pretty excited to jump on her to see what she felt like, and she didn’t let me down.”
It’s been an eventful stretch for McDonald, who graced the Sydney premiere of his career documentary Monday night.
He much prefers horseback to glamour events, and with scant pause to mull his Golden Slipper Day glory, revels in its significance.
“It keeps rolling on and on, so there’s not much time to reflect,” McDonald said.
“In saying that, there were five exceptional performances in all the big races, and to have a bit of luck in three of them, it was special.”
Tuesday brought confirmation that Autumn Glow, his 131st Group 1 mount, eyes the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for her Sydney autumn finale.
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