Champion Kiwi jockey James McDonald capped off an incredible Royal Ascot carnival, riding a third winner for the week on Saturday’s final day of racing.
While it wasn’t the Gr.1 Platinum Jubilee (1200m) on the Chris Waller-trained Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), George Boughey’s Missed The Cut (Quality Road) delivered for the star rider in the Golden Gates Stakes.
It has been a remarkable five days for McDonald, who started his Ascot campaign with a Group One win on Nature Strip (Nicconi). He then backed it up the following day on Dark Shift (Dark Angel) in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Already a member of the Hall Of Fame in his native New Zealand, McDonald leaves Royal Ascot riding three winners from eight rides.
“It’s fantastic. I’m lucky to be here, first and foremost,” he said.
“Lucky the cards have fallen my way and I’m very thankful for that.”
His four-and-a-quarter-length beating of Asgoodassobergets (Dariyan) handed young Classic-winning trainer George Boughey a second Royal Ascot winner of the week. Sun King (Galileo) and the staying-on Groundbreaker (Oasis Dream) secured minor honours.
McDonald was full of praise for Boughey and Missed The Cut.
“This horse is a very good horse. He’s very unassuming, he just went about his business in a really relaxed matter,” McDonald said.
“His turn of foot. He has some boot.”
Only Ryan Moore (7), William Buick (5) and Daniel Tudhope (4) finished with more winners than the star Kiwi hoop across the five days of racing.
It was a landmark week for McDonald with his Ascot haul, although it wasn’t his first success at the Royal meeting – he piloted the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Expert Eye (Acclamation) to victory in 2018.