However, his New Zealand-based manager Garry Cossey confirmed McDonald won’t be taking other rides at the Trentham meeting. McDonald hasn’t ridden in his home country since the Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie in January last year. “I am feeling a lot better and it was very special to win that race,” he told the Herald. He and wife Katie will meet with doctors on Monday morning to find out the next steps in his recovery. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 21, 2025 20:54 UTC