SUPERSTAR jockey James McDonald has been forced to relinquish his rides at the final Group 1 meeting of the season at Eagle Farm on Saturday due to illness.
McDonald was admitted to Prince Of Wales Hospital on Wednesday night after he stood himself down from riding at Warwick Farm mid-meeting suffering from stomach pain.
He underwent further tests in hospital on Thursday and was found to have gallstones. He was allowed back home last night.
McDonald’s manager, Mark Guest, is on holiday in Europe but was in contact with the jockey and confirmed he will not ride this weekend.
Guest said McDonald has been ordered to rest and there was “no time frame” about when he will return to the saddle.
McDonald has had a sensational season riding 19 Group 1 winners including four in Hong Kong and one in Japan.
The champion jockey was due to ride the Chris Waller-trained C’est Magique in the $700,000 Tatt’s Tiara on Saturday.
C’est Magique was an impressive last start winner of the Dane Ripper Stakes and is $7 second favourite for the Tiara behind Bella Nipotina at $2.20.
The Waller stable was considering replacement riders for McDonald on C’est Magique and also for stablemates New Mandate (Tattersall’s Mile) and Thalassophile (Tattersall’s Gold Crown).
McDonald was booked for seven races at Eagle Farm including three for Brisbane’s leading trainer Tony Gollan and also for the Annabel Neasham-trained Depth Of Character (Tattersall’s Stakes).
Originally published as Champion hoop James McDonald to miss Tatt’s Tiara Day after being struck down with illness