Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Following his Cox Plate triumph aboard Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) on Saturday, former jockey Glen Boss lavished praise on James McDonald.
Boss said McDonald is “the best I’ve seen.”
That’s from a man who sits comfortably inside the top 10 for most Group 1 wins of all time and doesn’t hand out compliments for fun.
James McDonald and Glen Boss | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Boss, who announced his retirement in November last year, chalked up 90 Group 1 victories during a stellar career, highlighted, of course, by his three Melbourne Cup victories aboard the great Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}).
Another former jockey to laud McDonald is Mick Dittman, one of only eight riders to win the ‘Grand Slam’, which comprises the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.
Dittman, an Australian Racing Hall of Fame member who amassed 88 elite-level successes, last month said, “McDonald is a great rider, an amazing rider. He’s going to set records like you wouldn’t believe, you won’t be catching him for a while.”
Mick Dittman | Image courtesy of Sportpix
McDonald has 72 Group 1s on his CV at 30 years of age – by comparison, record-holder Damien Oliver had 57 at the same age. He is also a six-time Sydney Jockeys’ Premiership winner and has won a Cox Plate, a Melbourne Cup and a Golden Slipper.
He is richly deserving of a seat at the top table.
Just don’t tell him that.
“It’s very humbling, but one fine day doesn’t make a summer. Hopefully, I’ve got a long career ahead of me,” McDonald told TDN AusNZ.
“It’s very humbling, but one fine day doesn’t make a summer. Hopefully, I’ve got a long career ahead of me.” - James McDonald
“Those guys… Mick Dittman, Darren Beadman, Glen Boss… they had careers… a bit like Nature Strip, they were ultra-consistent for so many years at the highest level. I’ve got a long way to go before I’m reaching those sorts of blokes, that’s for sure.
“Darren Beadman, I hold him as the best I’ve seen. I rode with him at a meeting in Hong Kong, but he retired soon after that. I would’ve loved to have ridden with him and watched him go around.
“We’re so lucky, we’re blessed in terms of the quality that is around when you think of Jimmy Cassidy, Glen Boss, Damien Oliver and Co; they’re all phenomenal jockeys.”
On the path to legendary status
McDonald, whose first ride was aboard Dumbarton (NZ) (Danasinga) at Avondale in August 2007, looked destined to smash all kinds of records, just as Dittman forecast. He first enjoyed Group 1 glory at Te Aroha in 2008 aboard Special Mission (NZ) (Towkay).
James McDonald riding Rio Fortune (NZ) early in his career (2010) | Image courtesy of James McDonald
Again, McDonald was typically modest when asked if he is determined to etch his name in the record books as the most successful jockey in history (by Group 1s), catching Oliver on a staggering 127.
“I just turn up in the best possible condition,” McDonald said.
“Obviously, this is our time of year to be performing, with the bigger races.
“Obviously, this is our time of year to be performing, with the bigger races.” - James McDonald
"With preparation for horses like Nature Strip and Anamoe, you build yourself up and hopefully you’re feeling brilliant on raceday to give yourself every chance to make the right decisions and everything else will look after itself.
“I’m feeling really good on the horses and the results are falling my way.”
In the zone
McDonald’s achievements are something to behold.
The four seasons encompassing 2018/19 – 2021/22 yielded 31 Group 1s.
His 2021/22 campaign was a career-best, netting 11 Group 1s, including the Melbourne Cup aboard superstar mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
James McDonald aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) in the 2021 Melbourne Cup | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Yet, incredibly, McDonald has gone up a gear in 2022/23.
With the season not even three months old, the New Zealander already has seven Group 1s and a further 13 stakes wins on the board.
He has posted 52 victories at a remarkable 26.3 per cent, with his nearest rival, James Orman, on 40 wins. Thirty-five of McDonald’s have come in town.
And on October 12, McDonald became the first jockey in 32 years to notch at least three Group 1s at the three-day Caulfield Cup Carnival (and he missed Caulfield Cup Day to ride in Sydney).
Interestingly, it was Dittman who achieved that same mark back in 1990.
James McDonald aboard Nature Strip | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The numbers are there for all to see and his form is imperious. McDonald, though, claims nothing has changed.
“I don’t think this season’s been any different, I’ve started pretty strong the past four or five seasons,” he explained.
“I haven’t done anything different.
“Getting on the right horses at the right time is a big key to it and I’ve managed to do that.”
“Getting on the right horses at the right time is a big key to it and I’ve managed to do that.” - James McDonald
McDonald is well-placed to add to his Group 1 tally on an action-packed Derby Day at Flemington this weekend, with the star jockey booked for a number of top chances. The Kiwi will partner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in the G1 Empire Rose S., In Secret (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ)(Redwood {GB}) in the G1 Victoria Derby.
Then there’s European import Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the Melbourne Cup, who is the second favourite behind Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and Anamoe, who could line up in the G1 Champions S. on November 5.
Also on the final day of the Flemington carnival is Nature Strip, who will square off against The Everest conqueror Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), in the G1 Champions Sprint.
Ranking the best
McDonald has now won seven times on Anamoe, with six of those at Group 1 level.
The 4-year-old entire created history on Saturday by becoming Godolphin’s winning Group 1 horse of all time in the royal blue colours, going ahead of Daylami (Ire) and Fantastic Light (USA).
“I was on a champion today (Saturday), I wasn’t going to lie, it’s been a big build-up. I can’t believe it!” McDonald said post-race.
“I wanted to build the revs up and that is why I went a tad earlier than I wanted to, but he was always going to sustain that gallop even though they looked like they were coming out of the pack to get him; he would have dug deep, he can find a bit.
“This horse, I think he'll get physically even better.”
McDonald has won eight Group 1s and 12 races in total aboard star sprinter Nature Strip, and, not surprisingly, rates him one of the best he has ridden.
The Kiwi also teamed with the recently retired Verry Elleegant to win nine Group 1s, while all six of Dundeel’s (NZ) triumphs in top company were in partnership with McDonald.
“Aside from Anamoe, I’ve been fortunate enough to sit on some absolute champions, including Verry Elleegant, Hartnell, Nature Strip, Anamoe and Dundeel,” McDonald commented.
“Aside from Anamoe, I’ve been fortunate enough to sit on some absolute champions, including Verry Elleegant, Hartnell, Nature Strip, Anamoe and Dundeel.” - James McDonald
“Then there’s all of those colts that retired early that had untapped potential, like Exosphere, Astern, Home Affairs and The Autumn Sun.”
Plans for the future
A soon-to-be father, McDonald revealed he doesn’t plan to ride on into his 50s like Oliver and Boss. And while retirement is a long way off, he has given thought to what he would like to do once he hangs up his riding boots.
McDonald said: “I’d like to get to 40, that’s for sure, but I don’t see myself being a Damien Oliver and making it to 50 and beyond.
“If my body’s holding up and no injuries, I might get to my mid-40s. There’s been no talk of that, I just keep seeing what’s in front of me and just aim up.
“I’m a breeding buff, so I enjoy horses’ pedigrees and stuff like that. My family have got broodmares and we take a keen interest in their foals each year and follow them all the way through. I quite enjoy that aspect of it.”
“I’m a breeding buff, so I enjoy horses’ pedigrees and stuff like that. My family have got broodmares and we take a keen interest in their foals each year and follow them all the way through. I quite enjoy that aspect of it.” - James McDonald
Asked if that’s something he would like to do once he calls time on his career, McDonald was categoric: “I have no doubt about that. I’ve got a great passion for it.”
McDonald is already well on his way, having acquired breeding rights to some stallions he has been acquainted with.
“Sometimes if you’re lucky enough to partner a colt with a good association you’ll get them. It’s not all the time,” he explained.
“Dundeel, Home Affairs… I’ve got a decent handful there.”
James McDonald aboard Home Affairs in the Silver Slipper | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Dundeel has had 18 stakes winners, including Group 1 winners Castelvecchio and Super Seth, while Home Affairs a son of I Am Invincible, is new to stud this season and stands at Coolmore Australia for $110,000 (inc GST).
What might have been
Given his passion for and interest in breeding, McDonald understands the commercial realities associated with having a crack colt.
He is thankful Godolphin has kept Anamoe racing beyond his 3-year-old season and wonders how The Autumn Sun would have fared had his connections followed a similar path.
James McDonald aboard The Autumn Sun | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I believe he could have done what Anamoe has done. He was only just scraping the surface,” said McDonald.
“Anamoe has gone on in leaps and bounds; I always thought he would.
“Credit where credit’s due when they keep them racing.
“You can understand why they retire them early; they’re so valuable and it’s heart in your mouth sort of stuff, thinking something may go wrong.
"Luckily, they’ve built a brilliant profile for Anamoe and it’s a credit to them.”
