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By Ray Hickson

It’s the right race, right jockey, but the wrong barrier so champion jockey James McDonald will still have a job to do if he's to win the race named in his honour on Unanimous at Rosehill on Saturday.

Johann Gerard-Dubord (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Johann Gerard-Dubord, assistant trainer to Ciaron Maher, said the stable couldn’t believe its luck when the eight time premier rider was available for what would become the Congratulations James McDonald Handicap (2000m) as the feeling is the gelding is ready to win.

Unanimous, $2.90 with TAB on Thursday, put the writing on the wall with his fourth-up third placing behind Aramco over 1800m at Randwick three weeks ago.

“He’s ready to peak, his last run will show that, and it looks like the right race so hopefully everything works out,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

“He doesn’t have much of a turn of foot, he’s a bit of a grinder, so he wants a race with a bit of speed or to be on speed if he isn’t.”

For the most part drawing an inside barrier is considered desirable by trainers but Gerard-Dubord said in the case of Unanimous it can play against him.

The seven-year-old has drawn barrier two in all four runs this preparation and came up with that marble at Rosehill but with the scratching of Tajanis he’ll have pole position.

But McDonald will be wary, last time he partnered Unanimous was the gelding’s last win at Kembla Grange back in November.

“He’s drawn well which is probably not the best thing for him,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

"He’s a horse who probably enjoys being drawn out wide because he’s not the quickest away.

“He likes to get rolling but from inside gates he can get dictated which is what happened last time. Hopefully James can get him away a bit better and he can be a bit closer in the run.”

The Maher stable had to go to Plan B for recent addition Vivy Air who was scheduled to make her stable debut last Saturday.

Rain on race morning and a deteriorating track saw Maher pull her out and she’ll find a more suitable surface in the NSW Jockeys Association Handicap (1200m) where McDonald will also be in the saddle.

Gerard-Dubord said waiting the extra week isn’t a big deal and while the race is slightly shorter he feels that isn’t a negative either.

“She had a piece of work on Tuesday on the bridle, it was 1300m last week and 1200m this week so there wasn’t the need to do much anyway,’’ he said.

“She got over longer trips but when they bought her they thought she was sharper than what she was showing and so we’re keen to keep her over shorter trips for the time being.

“So we’ve been training her fairly soft and keeping her nice and fresh.

“The way we rode her in two trials is probably how we are going ride her race day, to let her find the bridle and let her use her turn of foot.”

Stablemate Cinematic Star is likely headed for a break after what will be her eighth run of the preparation, with her two fourths behind In Flight her only unplaced efforts.

Unanimous runs third at Randwick on July 13

“She’s had a great prep, she started as a maiden and she improved the whole time,’’ he said.

“Physically she strengthened, she spends her time at Bong Bong and every time she races she seems to be furnishing.

“She’s a get back horse and from that gate that’s not going to change. I think next time she will be a better horse again.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting