P J McDonald© Photo Healy Racing
Good horses make good jockeys and PJ McDonald, who has enjoyed plenty of success at the top level on Laurens, is hoping for further Group 1 glory this year with Duke Of Hazzard.
The Wexford-born rider won four Group 1’s on Laurens including the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly and she also finished second to Billesdon Brook in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.
McDonald missed out on two further Group 1 wins aboard the Karl Burke-trained filly after fracturing his left ankle and right heel in a freak parade ring accident at Newcastle in the lead up to the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in 2018.
The daughter of Siyouni has been retired to the paddocks this year but McDonald could have a ready-made replacement to compete in the top league.
He partnered Duke Of Hazzard to win twice last year including the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and the son of Lope De Vega enjoyed further success at the Sussex track for trainer Paul Cole in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Celebration Mile Stakes.
Cole, champion trainer in 1991 when winning the Derby and King George with Generous, will hold a joint licence this year with his son Oliver and McDonald confirmed on Paddy Power’s podcast ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ that he will continue to ride the four-year-old.
“Oliver Cole ran me a couple of days ago and I’m going to keep the ride on Duke Of Hazzard this year. He’ll be campaigning at Group 1 level and that was nice to know that I have a Group 1 horse.
“I had to wait so long for one to come along. I’d been riding for years and at quite a high level but the difference that riding a first Group 1 winner made to my mentality going out to ride in a race was huge,” he said.
McDonald (38) added, “You don’t realise until you actually ride in the Group 1’s against the best jockeys and best horses how much you learn. I’m in the latter end of my career and I’ve learned more in the last four years than in the 20 years before that.
“I’d love to be able to ride for as long as a I can but, once you’ve had a little taste of that top level, I don’t know how much I’d enjoy it anymore if I didn’t have the quality of horse to ride.”
