Chris Waller’s strangehold on the Coolmore Stud Stakes continued at Flemington on Saturday thanks to a brilliant performance from James McDonald on Home Affairs.

Sydney’s premier trainer claimed the race for the fifth time in the last nine years with the son of I Am Invincible, who was backed from $8.50 into $5.00 favouritism with Ladbrokes.

J-Mac claimed his third win of the day aboard the three-year-old, and he made it look easy racing up on the speed before pushing the button at the 400m mark to win by three lengths.

McDonald rode Home Affairs in his maiden win in the Silver Slipper back in February before retaining the ride in the Golden Slipper when eighth at Rosehill.

The lightly-raced sprinter resumed last month for a Stakes win over 1100m, but failed to go on with it in The Everest when five lengths ninth behind Nature Strip.

Having J-Mac back in the saddle clearly improved his chances, although the winning hoop had had his fair share of trouble in this race previously.

“This is a race that’s haunted me, I’ve run so many seconds, so to get over the line on such a talent, it’s special,” McDonald told Racing.com.

J-Mac finished third last year on Wild Ruler, but admitted he always knew Home Affairs was something special.

“He’s a horse that’s shown so much talent. We expected a performance like that, he’s such a good horse. When he uses that high cruising speed and gets the first half right, that’s the turn of foot he showed,” McDonald went on to say.

Bruckner was a clear second paying $11.00 the place, while the short-priced favourite Artorius filled the minors in third, followed by Ranch Hand in fourth.