James McDonald (jockey)

For other people with the same name, see James McDonald (disambiguation).

James McDonald
McDonald winning the Hong Kong Cup at the Sha Tin Racecourse in 2023
Nickname	JMac, J-Mac
Occupation	Jockey
Born	(1992-01-06) 6 January 1992 (age 33) Kaipaki, New Zealand
Weight	55 kg (121 lb)
Honours
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2021) World Jockey of the Year (2021, 2024)
Significant horses
Verry Elleegant,It's A Dundeel,Nature Strip,Anamoe,Romantic Warrior,Via Sistina

James McDonald (born 6 January 1992) is a New Zealand thoroughbred racing jockey and member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. On 2 November 2021, McDonald rode the winning horse Verry Elleegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. ^[1] He has been awarded the World Jockey of the Year in 2021 and 2024 in the TRC Global Rankings. ^[2]

Group 1 winners (111)

McDonald winning the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at the Sha Tin Racecourse in 2023

McDonald has currently ridden 111 Group One winners, including 85 in Australia, 12 in Hong Kong, 11 in New Zealand and one each in Japan, United Kingdom and UAE: ^[3]

Major wins

  Australia

• AJC Derby (2) - It's A Dundeel (2013); Riff Rocket (2024)
• All Aged Stakes (1) - Cascadian (2022)
• Australian Oaks (2) - Rising Romance (2014); Verry Elleegant (2019)
• Canterbury Stakes (2) - Cosmic Endeavour (2015); Holler (2016)
• Caulfield Guineas (3) - Shooting To Win (2014); The Autumn Sun (2018); Golden Mile (2022)
• Caulfield Stakes (1) - Anamoe (2022)
• Champagne Stakes (2) - Captivant (2021); Broadsiding (2024)
• Champions Stakes (3) - Zaaki (2021); Atishu (2023); Via Sistina (2024)
• Chipping Norton Stakes (5) - Contributer (2015); Verry Elleegant (2021); Verry Elleegant (2022); Anamoe (2023); Via Sistina (2025)
• Coolmore Classic (1) - Zougotcha (2024)
• Coolmore Stud Stakes (3) - Home Affairs (2021); In Secret (2022); Switzerland (2024)
• Cox Plate (3) - Anamoe (2022); Romantic Warrior (2023); Via Sistina (2024)
• Darley Champions Sprint (4) - Delectation (2015); Nature Strip (2019); Nature Strip (2021); Sunshine In Paris (2024)
• Doomben Cup (1) - Zaaki (2021)
• Empire Rose Stakes (2) - Shillelagh (2018); Atishu (2024)
• Epsom Handicap (1) - Hauraki (2016)
• Flight Stakes (2) - Funstar (2019); Zougotcha (2022)
• George Main Stakes (3) - Verry Elleegant (2021); Anamoe (2022); Fangirl (2023)
• George Ryder Stakes (2) - Real Impact (2015); Anamoe (2023)
• Golden Rose Stakes (3) - Exosphere (2015); Astern (2016); Broadsiding (2024)
• Golden Slipper Stakes (1) - Mossfun (2014)
• J. J. Atkins (1) - Broadsiding (2024)
• Lightning Stakes (1) - Home Affairs (2022)
• Melbourne Cup (1) - Verry Elleegant (2021)
• Moir Stakes (1) - Nature Strip (2019)
• Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1) - It's A Dundeel (2014)
• Queen of the Turf Stakes (1) - Zougotcha (2024)
• Queensland Derby (2) - Kukeracha (2021); Kovalica (2023)
• Queensland Oaks (1) - Scarlett Lady (2011)
• Randwick Guineas (1) - It's A Dundeel (2013)
• Ranvet Stakes (3) - Contributer (2015); Verry Elleegant (2021); Via Sistina (2024)
• Rosehill Guineas (2) - It's A Dundeel (2013); Anamoe (2022)
• Sires' Produce Stakes (1) - Anamoe (2021)
• Spring Champion Stakes (1) - It's A Dundeel (2012)
• Surround Stakes (1) - Lady Shenandoah (2025)
• Tancred Stakes (3) - Hartnell (2015); Avilius (2019); Verry Elleegant (2020)
• The Galaxy (2) - Temple Of Boom (2012); Nature Strip (2019)
• The Metropolitan (1) - Magic Hurricane (2015)
• The Thousand Guineas (2) - Madame Pommery (2022); Joliestar (2023)
• TJ Smith Stakes (3) - Nature Strip (2020); Nature Strip (2021); Nature Strip (2022)
• Turnbull Stakes (1) - Hartnell (2016)
• Underwood Stakes (1) - It's A Dundeel (2014)
• Victoria Derby (1) - Riff Rocket (2023)
• Vinery Stud Stakes (2) - Verry Elleegant (2019); Orchestral (2024)
• VRC Oaks (1) - Zardozi (2023)
• Winx Stakes (3) - Verry Elleegant (2020); Anamoe (2022); Fangirl (2023)

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  New Zealand

• Auckland Cup (1) - Shez Sinsational (2012)
• Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1) - Keep The Peace (2011)
• Mudgway Stakes (1) - Keep The Peace (2010)
• New Zealand Derby (1) - Silent Achiever (2012)
• New Zealand International Stakes (1) - Shez Sinsational (2012)
• New Zealand Oaks (1) - Jungle Rocket (2009)
• New Zealand Stakes (1) - Scarlett Lady (2012)
• New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1) - Special Mission (2008)
• Telegraph Handicap (1) - Guiseppina (2012)
• Zabeel Classic (2) - Shez Sinsational (2011); True Enough (2019)

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  United Kingdom

• King's Stand Stakes - (1) - Nature Strip (2022)

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  Hong Kong

• Champions Mile - (1) - Xtension (2012)
• Hong Kong Cup - (3) - Romantic Warrior (2022, 2023, 2024)
• Hong Kong Stewards' Cup - (2) - Voyage Bubble (2024, 2025)
• Queen Elizabeth II Cup - (2) - Romantic Warrior (2023, 2024)
• Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup - (1) - Lucky Sweynesse (2023)
• Hong Kong Gold Cup - (2) - Romantic Warrior (2024); Voyage Bubble (2025)
• Hong Kong Mile - (1) - Voyage Bubble (2024)

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  Japan

• Yasuda Kinen - (1) Romantic Warrior (2024)

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  United Arab Emirates

• Jebel Hatta - (1) Romantic Warrior (2025)

References

1. "James McDonal enters the Hall of Fame". hermitage.com. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
2. "James McDonald is World Jockey of the Year for 2021". TRC. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
3. "James McDonald profile". racingandsports.com. Retrieved 3 September 2021.