After achieving back-to-back victories as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, James McDonald is hoping to cap off an extraordinary season by creating more history at Sha Tin tomorrow (Sunday, 14 December) on Romantic Warrior.
McDonald, who also won the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award in 2022, will ride Romantic Warrior in search of a historic fourth consecutive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victory.
McDonald, 33, was presented with a crystal vase trophy on Friday night (12 December) by Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
McDonald, who also received a special LONGINES watch from Mr Patrick Aoun, President and Chief Executive Officer of LONGINES, said he was great to again win such a prestigious award.
“The first was time in the clouds sort of job and I suppose if anyone gets a good horse, they can win the award once but to do it three times is pretty cool and Ryan (Moore) Frankie (Dettori) have won it four times and we are talking about the greatest jockeys on earth,” McDonald said.
McDonald modestly said he would not put himself in that category and believes his success was propelled by being lucky enough to ride three exceptional horses – Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble and Via Sistina – in the one year.
“Romantic (Warrior) is the best, Via (Sistina) is phenomenal for what she has achieved and so is Voyage Bubble,” he said.
McDonald won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group 1 or Grade 1 races. Three of those were on Voyage Bubble, one on Romantic Warrior, who was sidelined for several months following fetlock surgery, six on Via Sistina and also one each on Joliestar and Sunshine In Paris.
He topped the rankings with 184 points, from Mickael Barzalona (132), William Buick (114) and Ryan Moore (102).
The LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title is based on performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year where jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for second, and 4 points for third.
McDonald said it had been a wonderful year but it was only through the deeds of the champion race horses he ridden throughout the year that allowed him win the award.
“And I mean they are incredible race horses, a (Hong Kong) Triple Crown winner (Voyage Bubble), a Hong Kong champion (Romantic Warrior) and an Australian champion as well (Via Sistina),” McDonald said.
“To get them all in one year doesn’t happen often at all and to be partnering them is just an incredible feeling and I feel very humbled to be riding them.”
McDonald, who is on short-term contract in Hong Kong and will return to Sydney just before Christmas, said the standout of all the performances was Voyage Bubble’s Triple Crown victory in HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).
A win on Romantic Warrior tomorrow could top what he has achieved this year, and if everything pans out all right, McDonald would love to return for another crack at the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in 2026 and attempt to avenge the narrow loss to Forever Young.