James McDonald clinches ninth Sydney jockeys' premiership to move closer to George Moore's record
Sydney storms put a dampener on champion hoop James McDonald's racing return on Wednesday – but nothing could stop the star rider celebrating a seventh consecutive Sydney jockeys' title.
McDonald went without a win on his first day back riding in Sydney in more than a month at Warwick Farm but didn't need one to officially move within touching distance of George Moore's all-time Sydney premiership record.
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His latest title success, his 10th in total, has been a fait accompli for several months.
McDonald finished the 2024/25 campaign with 83 city winners to sit comfortably clear of Jason Collett (74 winners) and Zac Lloyd (67 winners).
Next season McDonald is the hot favourite to add a 10th premiership and equal Moore's long held record in Sydney racing.
He can also equal Moore's amazing feat of eight straight Sydney titles, which was achieved on a historic run from 1961-62 to 1968-69.
McDonald's latest haul is the least victories he's had in a premiership-winning season since winning his first in 2013-14 with 72 winners.
• Angela Jones seals historic Brisbane jockeys' premiership
But the coveted crown has come with a sensational winning strike rate in town of just over 25 per cent while juggling international commitments in Hong Kong and the Middle East as well as several interstate raids.
His partnership with soon-to-be horse of the year Via Sistina helped propel him to a career best season of 21 Group 1 victories with a personal record of more than $59m in prizemoney earned for connections.
Via Sistina was McDonald's headline horse in Australia. Picture: Getty Images
McDonald can kick the new season off on a high note with seven rides at Saturday's Rosehill Gardens meeting.
It will also see the metropolitan return of leading apprentice Braith Nock, who added his name to one of Sydney racing's most coveted honour rolls.
Nock has spent the final two weeks of the campaign on the sidelines through suspension but did more than enough to celebrate his maiden apprentices' title with 40 winners for the campaign.
• Much-loved hoop retires to pursue training partnership
Chris Waller (142 winners) continued his remarkable reign at the top of the tree of the Sydney training ranks which has now stretched for 15 seasons.
Premiership winners will be celebrated at Saturday's Rosehill Gardens card, which coincides with the Australian Turf Club's Jockey Celebration Day.
Australian Turf Club head of racing and wagering Nevesh Ramdhani paid tribute to the premiership winners.
'Sydney has world-class jockeys and trainers who help to make our racing the equal of any centre 52 weeks a year,'' Ramdhani said.
'It is fitting we celebrate the premiership winners whilst hosting a large number of retired jockeys who have created their own history and memories on Sydney tracks.'
More rain throughout the remainder of the week has the industry of weather watch heading into the weekend.
Originally published as Champion jockey James McDonald returns on final day of metro season to celebrate ninth Sydney jockeys' premiership
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- Mercury
Without Parallel stays unbeaten at Rosehill to emerge as a contender for The Kosciuszko
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Country NSW's leading trainer Matt Dunn has his sights on The Kosciuszko after his emerging talent Without Parallel remained unbeaten at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The four-year-old mare made it four from four when revelling in the heavy conditions to trounce her rivals in the Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m). Immediately after the win, installed Without Parallel into The Kosciuszko pre-field market as a $26 chance for the $2m 1200m country feature at Randwick on October 18. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'We have to start thinking seriously about the race now,' Dunn said. 'Horses can go from Highway races to The Kosciuszko but they need to win like she did. 'I did something similar with a horse called Derry Grove. He won two Highways before running in The Kosciuszko. 'I've got a bit more time up my sleeve with this horse, so I'll go home and plot a path. 'She's a good candidate.' Without Parallel was sent out the $2.45 favourite and gave her backers a painless watch, dominating from the front before surging clear in the straight to win by an ever widening 4¾ lengths from Via Vegas ($18) with Cougars ($8) a half-head back in third. The victory was the perfect start to the new season for apprentice Anna Roper, who was having her first ride for Dunn and provided the prolific trainer with his 41st Highway winner. 'It's a really impressive effort,' Roper said. 'She added another string to her bow today with the wet track and in Sydney grade. 'I was sort of hoping to lead and when that horse crossed me, I didn't really want to follow it so I just popped outside it. • Waller and J-Mac ignite Godolphin's new era 'It meant I was able to get to the best part of the track so it was good to do that with her. 'She handled that track really well and to do that over 1200 (metres), Matt has got a really nice horse on his hands. 'Super turn of foot. Turning for home I gave her one slap down the shoulder and she took off like a rocket, so she is a really nice horse for the future. 'She's the nicest horse I've sat on in a Highway, that's for sure and certain.' Without Parallel started her career with two starts in the Northern Rivers district of NSW before resuming in June when she recorded her third win at Eagle Farm. Dunn said the daughter of former Kiwi-based shuttle stallion Time Test still has plenty of scope to continue her progression through the grades. 'The way she did that was no surprise to me,' he said. 'The only question I had was if she was going to get through the heavy ground and she's ticked that box now. 'I was hopefully she's handle it because she's that right shape. She's a speed horse that's nimble and athletic. 'If today was a dry track I'd have expected her to do that to them. I hold her in good regard. • Crossbow aims higher after maiden win at Flemington 'Today was another positive. 'She handles firm, good, soft and heavy, she can make the pace or come off speed. 'A real little runner. She's an intelligent little racehorse that just does it.' Roper heads into 2025/26 after the best return of her short career, riding 77 winners during last season with 23.5 metropolitan winners to finish third in the Sydney apprentices' premiership. 'That was my first ride for Matt so it was good to get the job done like that for him,' Roper said. 'I'd really like to get to 100 winners this season shore up my place riding in town so it was good to get off to a fast start like that. 'Last season I missed the first few months through injury so this year to plan is to try to get to 100. 'I really want to work on my consistency too this season in town on a week-to-week basis. 'I've been very lucky with the support I've received from some big stables like Ciaron's. He's been so supportive to my career.' Originally published as Without Parallel stays unbeaten with Highway win at Rosehill to emerge as a strong contender for The Kosciuszko
Herald Sun
6 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Without Parallel stays unbeaten at Rosehill to emerge as a contender for The Kosciuszko
Unbeaten mare Without Parallel stormed into The Kosciuszko contention after demolishing her rivals in a Highway at Rosehill. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Country NSW's leading trainer Matt Dunn has his sights on The Kosciuszko after his emerging talent Without Parallel remained unbeaten at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The four-year-old mare made it four from four when revelling in the heavy conditions to trounce her rivals in the Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m). Immediately after the win, installed Without Parallel into The Kosciuszko pre-field market as a $26 chance for the $2m 1200m country feature at Randwick on October 18. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'We have to start thinking seriously about the race now,' Dunn said. 'Horses can go from Highway races to The Kosciuszko but they need to win like she did. 'I did something similar with a horse called Derry Grove. He won two Highways before running in The Kosciuszko. 'I've got a bit more time up my sleeve with this horse, so I'll go home and plot a path. 'She's a good candidate.' Without Parallel was sent out the $2.45 favourite and gave her backers a painless watch, dominating from the front before surging clear in the straight to win by an ever widening 4¾ lengths from Via Vegas ($18) with Cougars ($8) a half-head back in third. The victory was the perfect start to the new season for apprentice Anna Roper, who was having her first ride for Dunn and provided the prolific trainer with his 41st Highway winner. 'It's a really impressive effort,' Roper said. 'She added another string to her bow today with the wet track and in Sydney grade. 'I was sort of hoping to lead and when that horse crossed me, I didn't really want to follow it so I just popped outside it. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2025 • Waller and J-Mac ignite Godolphin's new era 'It meant I was able to get to the best part of the track so it was good to do that with her. 'She handled that track really well and to do that over 1200 (metres), Matt has got a really nice horse on his hands. 'Super turn of foot. Turning for home I gave her one slap down the shoulder and she took off like a rocket, so she is a really nice horse for the future. 'She's the nicest horse I've sat on in a Highway, that's for sure and certain.' Without Parallel started her career with two starts in the Northern Rivers district of NSW before resuming in June when she recorded her third win at Eagle Farm. Dunn said the daughter of former Kiwi-based shuttle stallion Time Test still has plenty of scope to continue her progression through the grades. 'The way she did that was no surprise to me,' he said. 'The only question I had was if she was going to get through the heavy ground and she's ticked that box now. 'I was hopefully she's handle it because she's that right shape. She's a speed horse that's nimble and athletic. 'If today was a dry track I'd have expected her to do that to them. I hold her in good regard. • Crossbow aims higher after maiden win at Flemington 'Today was another positive. 'She handles firm, good, soft and heavy, she can make the pace or come off speed. 'A real little runner. She's an intelligent little racehorse that just does it.' Roper heads into 2025/26 after the best return of her short career, riding 77 winners during last season with 23.5 metropolitan winners to finish third in the Sydney apprentices' premiership. 'That was my first ride for Matt so it was good to get the job done like that for him,' Roper said. 'I'd really like to get to 100 winners this season shore up my place riding in town so it was good to get off to a fast start like that. 'Last season I missed the first few months through injury so this year to plan is to try to get to 100. 'I really want to work on my consistency too this season in town on a week-to-week basis. 'I've been very lucky with the support I've received from some big stables like Ciaron's. He's been so supportive to my career.' Originally published as Without Parallel stays unbeaten with Highway win at Rosehill to emerge as a strong contender for The Kosciuszko Horse Racing Trainer Denim Wynen celebrated her first city win as former Yulong-owned mare Sunshine Law relished the heavy conditions to score a first-up win at Rosehill. Horse Racing Premiership winners Chris Waller and James McDonald kicked off Godolphin's new era on a winning note with Amusing saluting for the 'Blue Army' at Rosehill.
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6 hours ago
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Chris Waller and James McDonald ignite Godolphin's new era at Rosehill
Premiership winners Chris Waller and James McDonald kicked off Godolphin's new era on a winning note with Amusing saluting for the 'Blue Army' at Rosehill. Premiership winners Chris Waller and James McDonald helped launch Godolphin's new era with a bang as Amusing gave the champion trainer his first winner for the 'Blue Army' at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Godolphin has moved from a private to public training model for the new season with multiple trainers from Sydney and Melbourne taking over the powerhouse's racing stock from departing conditioner James Cummings. Waller was one of many prominent recipients with Amusing the first horse to line up at the races for a new stable across Australia. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! McDonald made sure it was easy viewing for all involved as Amusing comfortably dispatched rivals to salute in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m). 'It's certainly a great honour to be training for Godolphin, they've been our biggest competitor for so many years and we've watched them every week to see what they are doing, how we are performing against them and they've been the best yardstick,' Waller said. 'There success has been amazing, starting with Woodlands with the Inghams and Sheik Mohammed buying that operation and developing their own operation. 'What their team has done has been amazing. It's great for Australian racing and to be one of the nine or 10 trainers to be chosen to train for them is an honour to be considered good enough to train for them.' 'The mutual respect over the years has been fantastic for their trainers, staff and management and they've really been the benchmark.' Waller watched the race with Hall of Famer Darren Beadman, who had spent his first full morning at the stable as a new member of Waller's staff. Amusing is one of nine horses now with Waller with the leading conditioner also set to put the polish on a string of two-year-olds later in the season. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2025 The classy daughter of Masar came to Waller in winning form after narrowly edging out her now stablemate Sister Daae over the same track and trip last month. 'We've taken over from a great operation and just seeing the horses coming into our system, a lot of the riders have just said 'wow',' Waller said. 'The young horses are so well educated and horses like Amusing have settled in really well. 'James has done a great job and their team and it really is an honour. 'I was nervous coming into the race just to make sure everything went well and things like that so it was a good relief.' McDonald was happy to stay closest to the inside on Amusing ($2.80 favourite) and had hit the front 300m from home before bounding clear to score by 2¼ lengths from Narbold ($5) and the Nathan Doyle-trained Aroha Stone ($12). McDonald has only just celebrating securing his seventh consecutive Sydney jockeys' premiership last season and ninth in total to move one away from George Moore's all-time record of 10 victories. He needed one race to move back to the top of the pile in Sydney racing. 'It's great to get off to a winning start,' McDonald said. 'It always sucks going back to zero, especially after such a long season like it was but it's good to make the perfect start and here we go again. 'Onwards and upwards, I'm looking forward to this season, there's plenty to look forward to and it was good to kick off with a nice winner like that, especially being Godolphin's first runner with Chris. 'She's a filly with plenty to offer going forward I think. She's a lovely big scopy filly.' Waller's 142-win metropolitan haul last season secured a remarkable 15th Sydney trainers' premiership in succession with the Rosehill conditioner the odds-on favourite to continue that reign in 2025/26. 'We take our Saturday racing so seriously and it was last Saturday the end of season and then it was straight into it, what can we do better and where can we improve,' Waller said. 'We did a few little things different and went through the runners yesterday, different to how we did before and trying to make the race day a little bit easier so we knew exactly what we were doing yesterday and what was handling tracks. 'Just being a little bit better prepared.' Horse Racing Trainer Denim Wynen celebrated her first city win as former Yulong-owned mare Sunshine Law relished the heavy conditions to score at Rosehill. Horse Racing Unbeaten mare Without Parallel stormed into The Kosciuszko contention after demolishing her rivals in a Highway at Rosehill.
