The disappointment of missing the Cox Plate following the scratching of favourite Zaaki was eased slightly with the win of Generation at The Valley.
James Mcdonald spent six days on the Victorian and New South Wales border with fellow jockey Hugh Bowman before making his way the Melbourne on Saturday, primarily to ride Zaaki in the Cox Plate.
But a phone call at 7.32am on Saturday morning dashed those hopes with McDonald continually checking the scratchings on Racing Australia to make sure it was not all a bad dream.
It wasn’t and the true professional McDonald is, he put that disappointment behind him to guide Generation home in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m).
And he followed up in the following race on Mokulua in the 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic (1600m).
“It just shows in racing that a week is a long time,” McDonald said.
“We were on top of the world and then 7:32 I got the phone call and it hurt a little bit, to be honest.
“It felt like the rug had been swept straight from underneath you.
“He’ll live to fight another day and thank God Annabel (Neasham) has another one in the race.”
McDonald said Generation was a good, tough colt who if he had ridden previously, he would have waited a little longer before pressing the button on the home turn.
Sent out the $2.20 favourite, Generation scored a half-length win over Scissor Step ($16) with Suduko ($6.50) three lengths away third.
Generation continued the good form of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable who scored a double at The Valley on Friday night.
Eustace said Generation had spent considerable time at the stable’s Balnarring property after his last start third at The Valley in early September.
“The last race took a fair bit out of him so we decided to give him a little a freshen up,” Eustace said.
“He got a lovely ride from James and just sat off Dosh, kicked at the right time and he was strong late.”