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By Adrian Sciglitano

James McDonald will head to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday full of confidence in a couple of exciting two-year-olds for the Chris Waller stable - Tropic ($3.90 on TAB) and Snitzel Miss ($4.40) – backed by what he’s seen at the trials.

The champion jockey hasn’t had the opportunity to put the pair through their paces at the trials but said he’s been aboard Tropic at trackwork and is encouraged by the colt’s potential.

Tropic will make his debut for the Chris Waller stable in the Group 3-Arrowfield Canonbury Stakes (1100m) and the colt has looked impressive in both of his trials, with McDonald confident the son of Zoustar can be competitive from an inside draw.

“Yeah, I have [sat on him at home],” McDonald said. “He’s a lovely horse, he’s done everything good and he’s drawn a nice gate so he should be pretty competitive in that race.

Champion jockey James McDonald - has eight rides at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

“I think he is pretty adaptable, I haven’t sat on him at the trials ... but he has been on speed in his trials so I expect him to be there.”

The Waller stable will also unearth two-year old filly Snitzel Miss, another debutante in the Group 3-Widden stakes (1100m) with McDonald looking forward to piloting her in the field of nine.

Snitzel Miss won the latest of her two trials by a narrow margin over unbeaten Inglis Millennium favourite Within The Law.

“She is a quality filly and similar to the other one [Tropic], she has been well educated and she is ready for her debut,” McDonald said.

“She has come up against a pretty handy field but she has shown above average ability. So, we look forward to stepping her out.”

McDonald was able to get the best out of the James Cummings-trained Polyglot ($2.40 favourite) last start in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m) when sent around a short-priced favourite and said he is progressing the right way to put two wins together stepping up to 1200m.

“He is progressing the right way, he was great first-up and it was ideal to get a run under his belt. Coming here second-up it should be ideal,” McDonald said.

Tasked with a tricky draw on paper, McDonald believes the lightly raced three-year-old can be adaptable in the run if he is required to.

“I think he is pretty adaptable, he seemed nice to ride two weeks ago. So, I expect him to be the same,” he said.

McDonald will pilot the progressive John O’Shea & Tom Charlton galloper Yorkshire, currently $1.65 in the TAB Handicap Benchmark 88 (1500m).

The four-year-old gelding was a dominant winner over 1350m last start at Wyong and McDonald is confident the step up to 1500m will pose no issues.

“He is a really talented horse and I know the stable hold him in high regard, so this is always another step up but he looks very progressive,” McDonald said.

“He’ll be handy enough [from the gate] and 1500m should suit him.”

James McDonald on Broadsiding, Via Sistina and Switzerland from the trials at Warwick Farm (Thursday): “They were all terrific, they were only out to shoot the breeze.

"But all of them pulled up really well, they look great and they are not far away from making their raceday appearances.”

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here