JAMES MCDONALD ON TOP OF THE WORLD

By Darren Winningham | Friday, December 6, 2024

Jockey James McDonald was crowned the 2024 LONGINES World's Best Jockey at the LONGINES Hong Kong Jockey Club Gala Dinner on Friday evening.

This is the second time McDonald has been awarded this prestigious award. He claimed his first title in 2022. Prior to that only one other Australia jockey had won the award – Hugh Bowman in 2017.

McDonald won nine of the world's top 100 Group 1 races and claimed 4 second placings and 7 third placings. He narrowly defeated four-time winner of the award Ryan Moore who rode 8 Group 1 winners, 5 second placings and 6 third placings. The final standings at the end of the season saw McDonald score 160 points and Moore 150 points.

“I thought once I won in 2022 that would be it,” admitted McDonald. “So, I think this one means a little bit more because I won it twice. I think when you look at Frankie (Dettori) winning four times, and Ryan (Moore) went onto to win four times … it's such a hard award to win.

“It is such a long season to have been so consistent … and you have to be able to be a part of a big horse’s journey, and at the moment I'm blessed because I have got two”

“I think I'm stronger (than 2022) and I think overseas exposure definitely has helped. Nothing beats that experience,” continued McDonald.

“The other thing that I've learnt is to be able to cope with what Frankie, Ryan, Huey (Hugh Bowman) have been able to do all these years, and that's ride champion racehorses and to be able to cope with that sort of pressure.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it's a very privileged position again and I think that's growing on me over the last two years to be able to ride great racehorses on the biggest stage like Royal Ascot or the Hong Kong International meeting.”

McDonald went onto explain his passion for his success in the saddle saying, “I see it as I really enjoy what I do, so I think it's not a job.

“I wake up every morning springing out of bed. I ride for the greatest big trainers down in Australia, Chris Waller and James Cummings, so their horses are always so fantastically prepared … and they got the best horses.

“Certain things that have brought it out of me. I think it all stemmed from Anamoe. I think he was the trailblazer who gave me the confidence that, yes, I do belong on the international stage, and I do belong riding the best horses in the land and I’m lucky enough to be able to do that now”

“I literally love what I do and that shows not only on the racecourse. I think what it means to me to be able to win those big races now is that it is not it's not about me, it's about the horse that you’re riding at that point in time.”

McDonald also spoke passionately about his association with Romantic Warrior.

“On Sunday the Hong Kong Cup means a hell of a lot to not only me. The trainer and the connections are all physically involved with him (Romantic Warrior) … but, now he's got a fanfare, I'm not just riding for those people.

“I am riding basically for Hong Kong so that's something I'm well aware of and I'm very proud to be doing”.

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