Eighteen year old New Zealander James McDonald, Champion Jockey in his own country, made his first foray into race-riding in Ireland, when finishing third on the Tommy Stack trained Make Me A Star in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Clonmel today.

McDonald held up the daughter of Galileo up towards the back of the five runner field, and although Make Me A Star did eventually make up some ground in the straight, finished a well-held third behind easy winner Dainty

Afterwards McDonald reflected “that was a good experience and I’d like to thank Fozzy and Tommy Stack for giving me the ride for such good owners (in the colours of Michael Tabor).”

Riding down the hill in Clonmel is an experience for most jockeys and McDonald did mention, with a wry smile, “ya, it was heaps different to the tracks I’ve ridden on in New Zealand!”