McDonald tunes up for Sha Tin with Happy Valley treble, Barzalona claims IJC with three of his own

James McDonald tuned up for Sunday’s massive Hong Kong international meeting at Sha Tin with a winning treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

The World’s Best Jockey of 2024 saluted on Prince Alex for Douglas Whyte in Race 5, produced a running double aboard Ricky Yiu’s Smart Fighter in Race 6 before completing his treble on Danny Shum’s Chill Chibi in Race 9.

McDonald will partner Shum’s superstar Romantic Warrior in Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Yiu’s star Voyage Bubble in the Hong Kong Mile (1600m), among other top rides.

Frenchman Mickael Barzalona also rode three winners at Happy Valley while taking out the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC).

He piloted Good View Glory in Race 2 before landing the Race 4 prize on Sergeant Pepper, the first leg of the IJC. He then buttered up in the third leg of the IJC on Aurora Lady in Race 8.

Barzalona finished on 30 points with two wins and a second from the four IJC-sanctioned races, with McDonald and Hollie Doyle equal second on 12 points each.

Australian hoop Zac Purton won the opening event on The Azure while master Aussie trainer David Hayes prepared two winners in Youth Power (Race 3) and Soleil Fighter (Race 7) despite tipping two other runners on SENTrack.

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Image from HKJC Racing on X.