James McDonald will return to Sydney racing as an in-form jockey when he resumes his chase for the metropolitan riders' title at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

McDonald rode a treble during the Singapore Derby meeting at Kranji on Sunday night in his first day back in the saddle after back-to-back suspensions stalled his Sydney premiership bid.

He is an unbackable favourite to win the title but with 37 city races programmed across the five meetings left in the racing season, McDonald needs to ride three winners to overtake defending champion Nash Rawiller.

Rawiller cut short his premiership defence when he took up a Japan riding contract in June.

McDonald's Warwick Farm book stood at seven mounts on Tuesday but of them, the Chris Waller-trained Spud O'Reilly, was set to race at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.

It's scenarios such as raceday scratchings that will ensure McDonald isn't getting ahead of himself as the 2013-2014 season winds down.

"There's still work to do and I'm definitely keeping my focus because it's not as simple as it looks," McDonald said.

Darley trainer John O'Shea has booked McDonald for two rides - Entwined and Copper.

O'Shea was instrumental in enticing McDonald to Sydney after the jockey won two New Zealand premierships and has continued to support the 22-year-old with rides despite a switch from Randwick to train for Darley.

McDonald will have added incentive when he rides Copper in the Camelot @ Coolmore Handicap (1300m).

He partnered Copper when she was first across the line at Warwick Farm on July 2 before losing the race in the stewards' room.

"She drifted out on me last time and hopefully I can make amends on her," he said.

McDonald has ridden infrequently for Waller this season but the premier trainer will leg him aboard Hadiklaim in the TAB Quaddie Handicap (1400m).

Hadiklaim has wound up midfield in two runs since a break but McDonald won on her when she broke maiden ranks at her first start in a race at Canterbury.

McDonald will also link with out-of-town trainer Kylie Gavenlock on Swayzee in the TAB Early Quaddie Handicap (1300m) and the filly is certain to appreciate a drop in standard on her last-start fourth to Delectation at Rosehill on July 5.