Amid mounting anticipation for the Melbourne Cup 2023, champion jockey James McDonald has been confirmed to ride last years winner Gold Trip.
Trainer Ciaron Maher made the announcement on Saturday night, shortly after news broke that regular jockey Mark Zahra would be sticking with Caulfield Cup victor Without A Fight in the Melbourne Cup.
Zahra had previously ridden Gold Trip in the Cox Plate on Saturday, and he couldn’t have been more complimentary about the horse’s performance, describing it as ‘exceptional.’
This booking marks a significant coup for McDonald, who earlier in the day steered Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior to victory in the Cox Plate.
McDonald is no stranger to Melbourne Cup glory, having famously guided Verry Elleegant to victory in the 2021 edition.
As the Melbourne Cup approaches, online bookmakers have set Gold Trip at $5.00, placing him on the second line of betting. The current favourite, Vauban, holds strong at $4.20, according to Ladbrokes, setting the stage for an exhilarating duel in the iconic race.
