Champion Sydney jockey James McDonald is set to return to his homeland to ride at the revamped TAB Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27.
The expat Kiwi tasted success at the meeting in 2019 aboard the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Long Leaf in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) for a group of owners that included his good friend and supporter Sir Peter Vela.
“This (Ellerslie) is one of my favourite tracks out of everywhere I have ridden,” said McDonald at the time.
“I haven’t ridden here for three years and everything has changed, the stables look magnificent.”
McDonald will be met by further improvements at Ellerslie later this month, with the Auckland venue undergoing a recent $50 million track redevelopment, with the installation of a StrathAyr track.
The meeting will also include the running of the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aoteora Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds, which will accompany the traditional $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), which has gained an additional $500,000 boost for the 2024 running.
