著名骑手詹姆斯·麦克唐纳对克里斯·沃勒训练的三岁马中欧在即将到来的玫瑰花蕾赛中的表现满怀期待[1]。这匹价值75万美元的马匹将在周六于悉尼玫瑰希尔赛马场参加1100米的玫瑰花蕾赛[1]。中欧在早期比赛中展现出天赋但运气不佳，在天空线赛中仅以极小差距负于Campione D'Italia，在帕戈帕戈赛中排名第三，距离领先者一个马位[1]。麦克唐纳希望通过此次比赛为中欧提供一个良好的起点，同时对该赛事的大马场规模保持谨慎态度[1]。
中欧本赛季初抽到7号位置，最终将是16匹马中的6号或更好位置[1]。麦克唐纳在玫瑰花蕾赛中战绩出众，近六年内已赢得三次，分别是2021年的Paulele、2023年的Tiz Invincible和2024年的Gatsby's[1]。麦克唐纳上赛季创造纪录，赢得17场一级赛胜利并获得第10个悉尼骑师冠军[1]。除了中欧外，麦克唐纳还将骑乘其他热门马匹参赛，包括赔率为$1.65的Steel Will、$3.20的Valedor、$2.90的Glissando、$2.20的Hawker Hall和$2.90的Tarzing[1]。
Jockey James McDonald is looking forward to steering Central Europe through the Listed Rosebud Stakes, a 1,100-metre race scheduled for Saturday at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney [1]. The three-year-old, trained by Chris Waller and valued at $750,000, has shown talent in early outings but has encountered bad luck, finishing narrowly behind Campione D'Italia in the Skyline Stakes and placing third in the Papagayo Stakes, just one length from the winner [1]. McDonald hopes the Rosebud will provide a solid platform for the horse's development, though he remains cautious about the large field size at Rosehill [1].
McDonald arrives at the race with a strong record in the Rosebud, having won the event three times in the past six years, including victories with Paulele in 2021, Tiz Invincible in 2023, and Gatsby's in 2024 [1]. The jockey enjoyed a record-breaking previous season, recording 17 Group One wins and capturing his 10th Sydney jockeys' premiership [1]. Central Europe has drawn barrier seven, though this position is expected to improve to barrier six or better in the final field of 16 [1].
McDonald will also have other strong chances in Saturday's program, with betting odds available on Steel Will at $1.65, Hawker Hall at $2.20, Valedor at $3.20, Glissando at $2.90, and Tarzing at $2.90 [1].