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James McDonald has been the shining light on a rain-sodden day at Canterbury.
Champion jockey James McDonald has declared Andermatt a Group horse in the making after the Godolphin four-year-old made an emphatic return on a curtailed Canterbury program.
While managing a stakes placing behind Wild Ruler last autumn, Andermatt wasn't realising his potential as a colt so Godolphin made the tough decision to geld the beautifully bred son of Snitzel.
Showing a renewed desire for racing, Andermatt made light of the heavy 10 conditions to demolish a handy midweek field in Wednesday's 1100m race, trouncing Dragonstone by more than six lengths with The Face holding down third.
McDonald, who partnered Andermatt to a Kembla Grange win at his most recent start in August, said Andermatt had returned a different horse.
"He is definitely a Group-class horse and now his head space is going the right way, he will measure up in some fair dinkum races and go on with it from here," McDonald told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"I didn't think he'd put them to the sword like he did, so that was a pleasant surprise."
Shortly after Andermatt's performance, stewards postponed the final three races on Wednesday's program, citing the wet weather and continuing rain.
However, the afternoon had already proven fruitful for Sydney's leading jockey, who booted home three of the five winners with Andermatt adding to his early double aboard the Chris Waller-trained pair of Zougotcha and Barrichello.
A $500,000 yearling purchase, Zougotcha made an impressive debut to win the Schweppes Plate (1200m) by a widening three lengths and stamp herself as a horse for the future.
"She is very professional, well educated," McDonald said.
"One trial was probably the only query, but she obviously learned plenty in that one trial and then executed beautifully."
McDonald led throughout on Barrichello a race later and while the track was still safe for racing at that stage, the leading hoop said it was the most testing surface he had experienced.
"It's the heaviest track I've ever ridden on," McDonald said.
