Cauthen will not be the only boom Kiwi youngster in action at this Saturday’s season-opening metropolitan meeting at Moonee Valley. The BECK Caulfield Guineas aspirant will be ridden by one of the rising stars on the world riding stage, James McDonald, reports Racing Victoria.
Cauthen’s trainer Andrew Campbell has declared McDonald as Cauthen’s rider for what shapes as a potent 3YO Colts & Geldings Benchmark 78 event over 1000 metres.
McDonald, 21, has long been expected to be one of the stars of the Spring Racing Carnival owing to his association with Sportingbet Cox Plate favourite It’s A Dundeel, but he now has the ride on another key contender for one of the majors.
Cauthen, a son of Darci Brahma, created a massive impression when he defied a wide run to coast home by 8.5 lengths on debut at Te Rapa on 3 July.
Campbell will start Cauthen on Saturday in an attempt to bolster his earnings, thus ensuring a start in the $120,000 Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on 17 August.
His main aim is the $1 million BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on 12 October.
McDonald has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence since riding more than 200 winners in his homeland during the 2010/11 season.
The following season he partnered eight Group 1 winners, including the Champions Mile in Hong Kong, and this season made the permanent move to Sydney.
McDonald showcased his international talents further this year when he rode winners in England and Singapore during a two-month stint that following the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
He has been preparing for the new racing season in New Zealand and made a trip to the winner’s stall at Te Rapa last Saturday.
Cauthen’s Australian debut is set to provide an early-season highlight with one-time Magic Millions favourite Clevadude and Peter Moody’s highly-rated colt Weinholt also among the entries.
The full set of entries for that race, plus the seven other events on the Moonee Valley program, areavailable here