Superstar rider James McDonald makes a timely return to race riding at Kensington on Wednesday as he bids to claim a historic sixth consecutive Sydney jockeys premiership.
McDonald, who has 83 city winners to lead the premiership, hasn’t ridden for three weeks due to a stomach complaint and during this period rival Nash Rawiller has closed to within three wins in the title race.
The renewed interest in the premiership battle prompted TAB Fixed Odds to reopen betting on the title outcome on Monday with McDonald rated $1.05 and Rawiller at $10.
But there was some money for Rawiller during the day and he is into $8 while McDonald has eased slightly to $1.07.
McDonald returns at the midweek meeting with six rides including boom first starter Mergeila (race 1), Gram (race 2), promising Autumnmation (race 5) and last start winner Nanshe (race 6).
Rawiller has a full book of seven rides including Fakhra (race 3), Oceans One (race 4), Star Impact (race 5) and Little Cointreau (race 6).
* July Cup winner in Everest frame as King Charles III visit shortens
There are five city meetings remaining for the 2023-24 season and McDonald is in the box seat to win the premiership as he has three-win lead and Rawiller will miss the Canterbury meeting on July 24 due to suspension.
If McDonald can win a sixth successive Sydney premiership, he will be only the third rider to achieve the feat.
Hall of Fame jockey Ron Quinton won six Sydney premierships in a row from 1978-79 to 1983-84 and the legendary George Moore won a record eight successive premierships from 1961-62 to 1968-69.
* Learning quest for Golden Eagle or Empire Rose hopeful
Two superbly-bred, expensive yearling purchases will make their long-awaited two-year-old debuts at the Warwick Farm meeting.
Mergeila, who lines up in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m) for the fillies, cost $750,000 at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year.
The Chris Waller-trained Mergeila is by unbeaten US triple crown winner and Coolmore sire sensation Justify, and is the first foal by Group 1-winning mare Invincibella.
Then in the Castelvecchio At Arrowfield Plate (1100m), another Justify colt, Dawn Service, who was knocked down for $1.4 million at Magic Millions last year, will go to the races for the first time.
Dawn Service is the first foal out of Sunlight, a three-time Group 1 winner of more than $6 million prizemoney.
* Spring preview: Pride, Busuttin-Young, Bridge discuss key targets
Originally published as J-Mac and Nash Rawiller premiership stoush heats up as $1.4m yearling debuts on Wednesday