Jockey James McDonald resumes premiership chase at Wednesday's Randwick-Kensington meeting
McDonald has ridden 81 Sydney winners so far in the 2024-25 and with 11 metropolitan meetings remaining for the season he has a commanding premiership lead over nearest rival Zac Lloyd on 64 wins then Jason Collett on 61.
In the history of Sydney racing, only one jockey has won more than six consecutive premierships and that was Hall of Famer George Moore with eight titles in a row between 1961-62 and 1968-89.
Although McDonald intends taking a short break before the new season starts on August 1, he is intent on winning his seventh Sydney premiership in a row, and his ninth overall.
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'Ever since I've been back from disqualification (in 2018) I have won the premiership each year,'' McDonald said.
'It's something I am very proud of and it would be lovely to win that title again.''
McDonald hasn't ridden in Sydney since earlier this month as he has been interstate and then travelled to Royal Ascot in England last week he is the star attraction at Wednesday's winter meeting.
The world's number-one ranked jockey competes as fiercely at a Sydney midweek meeting as he does in a Group 1 race which is reflected by his consistent results and premiership success in recent years.
McDonald, who has ridden exactly 100 career winners at Kensington for a healthy strike-rate of 17.7%, is on favourites Frosty Girl, Pink Shalala and Getafix.
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller has also had a sensational 2024-25 season with a national record of 19 Group 1 wins and has already secured his 15th consecutive Sydney trainers premiership with 132 winners. He has booked McDonald in five races on Indigo Star, Royal Air Force, Beside The Ocean, Frosty Girl and Pink Shalala.
Trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton have secured McDonald for the Kensington closer on Getafix.
In an exclusive interview with News Corp, McDonald reflected on his outstanding 2024-25 season, his hopes of equalling the national Group 1 riding record, and his horses to watch for the coming spring carnival.
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The Group 1 record
McDonald is riding favourite Firestorm in the final Group 1 of the season, the $700,000 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday and if successful he will equal the longstanding national riding record of 16 Group 1 races in a season set by 'Miracle' Mal Johnston in 1979-80.
'Firestorm is definitely a runner's chance,'' McDonald said.
'It would be a huge honour if I could get the record as I have great respect for 'Miracle'. He was an amazing jockey.''
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The season
McDonald has enjoyed a career-best season with 21 Group 1 winners so far in 2024-25 including six major race wins overseas.
'It's been a season to dream of, really,'' he said.
'I don't think I could beat what I achieved in the previous years but this season has exceeded them, to be fair.
'I'm extremely proud of my results and I also think back on those near misses in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Turf so my season could have been off the charts.''
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The highlight
� AN INCREDIBLE RACE!!
🇯🇵 FOREVER YOUNG DEFEATS ROMANTIC WARRIOR IN THE 2025 SAUDI CUP!! #SaudiCup | @TheSaudiCup | @netkeiba | @JRAVAN_info | @yahagistable | #サウジカップ | #フォーエ�ーヤング pic.twitter.com/ozM01DS1jU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 22, 2025
McDonald could easily have nominated his spectacular wins on champion mare Via Sistina in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, or any of his successes with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior as his season highlight – but instead he chose a narrow loss in Saudi Arabia!
'It might sound funny but my highlight was the Saudi Cup, even though Romantic Warrior was narrowly beaten,'' he said.
'Obviously, I would have loved to have won the race but I learned so much from that loss.
'It was the most respect I have ever had for a racehorse's performance, to go down fighting like Romantic Warrior did that day (second to Forever Young). The duel those two horses had, and they were 11 lengths clear of the rest of the field, was epic.''
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Romantic Warrior
History is made! �
ROMANTIC WARRIOR becomes the first three-time winner of the Longines Hong Kong Cup for @mcacajamez and Danny Shum! #HKIR | #HKRacing | @HKJC_Racing pic.twitter.com/sq20gT0jYv
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 8, 2024
Hong Kong's champion Romantic Warrior underwent surgery for a fetlock injury last month but has made a complete recovery and will return to racing later this year.
'Romantic Warrior seems fine now and will be back for sure,'' McDonald said.
'He will have his first run in November (Group 2 Jockey Club Cup) and then second-up he will be going for a fourth successive Hong Kong (International) Cup in December.''
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The travel
Just so good, Voyage Bubble! ðŸ''
We can't believe it's already 11 days since the crowning our second #TripleCrown winner in Hong Kong racing history... @mcacajamez #ThrowbackThursday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/zARrjEAHJl
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 5, 2025
McDonald's hectic schedule had him riding all over the world this season, winning races in Hong Kong, Japan, United Arab Emirates and England as well as his many commitments in Australian racing.
'I knew my schedule was always going to be pretty busy – it's affected my sleep patterns for sure,'' he said.
'I think it was my trips to the Middle East that really knocked me around the most. I did three trips in a few weeks and that took its toll.
'I've had to go to Hong Kong plenty of times but that is sort of in our time-zone and I've got that down to a bit of a fine art now.
'Then to get a winner at Royal Ascot last week was very special and capped off my season.
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Horses to watch
Did we just see the Golden Slipper winner?! 😮
Wodeton wins brilliantly at Rosehill for @cwallerracing and @mcacajamez! @aus_turf_club | @CoolmoreAus pic.twitter.com/ZlCFYR68WS
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025
McDonald got to put Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton through his paces at Rosehill trackwork on Tuesday morning which is a sure sign that the countdown to the spring carnival has begun.
The champion jockey revealed the horses he believes will make a huge impact in the new season – Chris Waller's outstanding rising four-year-olds mares Autumn Glow, Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana.
'Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah look unbelievably good – I think they are the two most exciting horses in the country,'' he said.
'One is trying to keep her unbeaten record intact (Autumn Glow) and the other keeps raising the bar (Lady Shenandoah).
'I would love to get back on Aeliana for sure but that is up to her connections. These three are lightly-raced and untapped, really.''
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