Coolmore has secured a strong replacement for James McDonald on the opening day of The Championships, with top jockey Ryan Moore set to ride at Randwick on April 5.

Coolmore Australia’s principal, Tom Magnier, confirmed on Tuesday morning that arrangements were nearly finalized for the English rider to step in for McDonald and take over his scheduled rides for the global racing powerhouse.

“The Dubai World Cup meeting is on next weekend and James was going up there, so Ryan is going to come down here,” Magnier told Sky Sports Radio.

“The horse of ours in Dubai, James McDonald is going to ride that for Aiden, so he’ll take Ryan’s ride there in the Gold Cup.

“Ryan is on the team, he’s following these races very closely, so he was delighted when I said do you want to come down.”

Moore will take the reins for what might be Switzerland’s final race in Australia, lining up in the $3 million Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m).

The Snitzel colt has struggled to find winning form since his electrifying victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, managing only a fourth-place finish in the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and coming in sixth in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

Additionally, Coolmore will be represented in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ on April 5. However, a decision is still pending on whether last weekend’s Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton will continue on to the 1400m contest.

If Wodeton does not participate, Moore will take the ride on Ciaron Maher-trained State Visit in the Sires’.