James McDonald's mum has runner of her own in 2023 Melbourne Cup
Superstar jockey James McDonald with proud Mum Dianne. Picture: Supplied.
Motherly love will trump personal Melbourne Cup ambition for the mum of superstar jockey James McDonald who has a runner of her own in the race that stops the nation.
Dianne McDonald bred and part-owns Melbourne Cup roughie Virtuous Circle, while son James will ride reigning champion Gold Trip as one of the fancied picks.
But there is no doubting where the loyalty of J-Mac's mum resides.
"I will be cheering for Gold Trip, all the way," Dianne McDonald told Racenet.
"My ultimate dream would be Gold Trip first, Virtuous Circle second.
"I went to bed the other night picturing it happening, picturing the colours of Gold Trip going over the line first and then Virtuous Circle running on for second.
"If Virtuous Circle could win it would improve my broodmare, but I would much rather James won the race.
"To be honest I would be happy if Gold Trip won and Virtuous Circle ran ninth and then I would get some good prizemoney."
Superstar jockey James McDonald with mum Dianne and brother Luke. Picture: Supplied
McDonald has ridden the Liam Howley-trained Virtuous Circle twice before, both times running places in Group races.
But Dianne McDonald has never pulled the family card to try to get her son to ride Virtuous Circle – not that he could at the weights in the Melbourne Cup anyway.
"We have always had a motto, even when James was little and starting off, you ride the best horse in the race and you don't worry about whose it is," she said.
"I would much rather James win a race than go around on one of my plonkers."
Bred by Dianne McDonald and Rob Mulcaster out of the mare She Is Stryking, Virtuous Circle was a $360,000 buy at the yearling sales and McDonald and Mulcaster retained shares.
Virtuous Circle came to notice as a potential Melbourne Cup contender when finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick in April.
Melbourne Cup contender Virtuous Circle, bred and part-owned by James McDonald's mum. Picture: Getty Images
He hasn't performed to expectations in recent times and will go out long odds in the Melbourne Cup, currently $126, after being beaten almost five lengths in the Geelong Cup.
Just like McDonald's Cup mount Gold Trip, Virtuous Circle may need it wet to show his best and he's unlikely to get conditions to suit.
Dianne McDonald, who has been helping with babysitting duties for granddaughter Evie, will be cheering hard for her son to score his second Melbourne Cup after wonder mare Verry Elleegant won in 2021.
She is enormously proud of James who recently claimed back to back Cox Plates.
It's been an extraordinary journey for James since growing up in New Zealand.
"He's been a superstar right from the start," Dianne said of her son.
"When he first started, I thought it would simply be great if he could ride out his (apprentice) claim.
"He's superseded that by millions.
"There's been so many great moments. I knew he was a tidy rider when he was young.
"But I never knew that until he gave up his ponies and other people tried to ride those ponies and they couldn't get them to do anything, I thought maybe he is a better rider than I initially thought he was."
James McDonald when crossing the line to win the 2021 Melbourne Cup on Verry Elleegant. Picture: Michael Klein
Apart from James McDonald's magic riding skills, his mum believes there is something else that sets him apart.
He is an iceman before big races and devours pressure.
"It's unbelievable how he can handle pressure," Dianne said.
"I think that's why he gets so emotional afterwards. because his emotions are all bubbling inside him and when it comes off he can let it all out.
"But you would never know before the races that he is nervous or excited, he is just dead-pan all the time.
"I remember watching him on Dundeel in the (Australian) Derby (in 2013).
"He was so young back then and there was huge pressure surrounding that Derby at Randwick.
"I just don't know how he holds it all together sometimes."
