James McDonald wins Group 1 races for enjoyable, however hardly ever has it been this simple and he described it as “poetry in movement”.
New famous person Kovalica didn’t give anybody a single nervous second – not McDonald, not coach Chris Waller, not Brisbane house owners Neville Morgan and David Devine and never punters who backed him – as he donkey-licked his rivals within the Queensland Derby.
So far as Group 1 wins go, you don’t see them come way more painless than this.
McDonald, who scored his 79th Group 1 win, has Kovalica completely positioned and travelling fantastically all through the 2400m check and had a lot horse beneath him that he edged out three-wide to make sure he wasn’t boxed in.
Quickly after, it was a case of occasions and margins.
Formally, the $1.70 favorite received by slightly below two lengths as Peter Moody’s galloper Fame confirmed his promise by making up making up many lengths to complete second.
However in actuality, Kovalica was by no means in peril and had this within the bag a good distance from residence.
“That was the best watch you might have ever seen,” Morgan declared, after Kovalica gave him his second Derby in three years, following on from the win of Kukeracha in 2021.
“As quickly as he went three-wide, you knew he was travelling.
“J-Mac didn’t wish to get caught in.
“This horse solely had his first begin in October final 12 months and he has gone from that to a Group 1 win with out him actually being prolonged.
“I feel he’s a particular horse.
“I feel, contact wooden, he may very well be probably the greatest I’ve had, hopefully.”
Kovalica had been the Derby favorite for a very long time however his preparation fleetingly went pear-shaped when he was scratched from the Tough Behavior Plate on race morning with a minor foot abscess.
It pressured Waller to divert to race Kovalica within the Group 1 Doomben Cup the place he ran a mighty race, ending third behind hardened outdated stagers.
Backing up seven days later, Kovalica made the Derby a one-act affair.
McDonald stated the win felt as simple as a number of the nice Verry Elleegant’s Group 1 wins.
“He’s right here to shine this horse, to indicate a flip of foot over these journeys is one thing else,” McDonald stated.
“There wasn’t a second of concern in that race as a result of nothing went fallacious, it was poetry in movement, he galloped away rather well.
“It doesn’t matter the place you’re in a race, they make their very own luck the great horses and he did that basically properly.”
Waller may have some huge spring fish to fry with Kovalica who may loom as a possible Caulfield Cup weapon.
However for the second the grasp coach was simply glad he did the job within the Derby.
“There was a hiccup two weeks in the past however we didn’t panic, gave him that additional run and as soon as he hit the entrance I assumed he was match sufficient, he will likely be proper,” Waller stated.
Initially printed as Kovalica offers simple watch in Queensland Derby demolition at Eagle Farm
