Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Australian-based, New Zealand rider James McDonald has been rewarded for his stellar year by being named the 2022 Longines World’s Best Jockey.
McDonald led the standings for most of the year, ultimately claiming the title with nine qualifying wins on five different horses.
The 30-year-old, who finished third in 2021, becomes the second Australian-based jockey to win the award, joining Hugh Bowman, who claimed the honour in 2017.
McDonald has been in sublime form in 2022, winning nine of the world’s top 100 Group 1 or Grade 1 races.
The first of those was the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. with crack colt Home Affairs, which came before McDonald partnered champion mare Verry Ellegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) to victory in the G1 Chipping Norton S. The Kiwi then partnered superstar Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) to elite-level success in the G1 Rosehill Guineas and champion sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) to his third consecutive triumph in the G1 T J Smith S. McDonald was in the saddle when evergreen Godolphin gelding Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) took out the G1 All Aged S., before adding further Group 1 success aboard Anamoe in the Winx S., George Main S., Might And Power S. and Cox Plate.
McDonald finished with 142 points for the year, 46 more than his nearest rival, Ryan Moore, who is a three-time winner of the award, with William Buick tallying 96 points to finish third.
James McDonald after winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
TDN AusNZ caught up with McDonald during the spring carnival, after his 72nd Group 1 victory, and despite being hailed as “the best (jockey) I’ve seen” by triple Melbourne Cup-winning rider Glen Boss, ’J-Mac’ wasn’t resting on his laurels.
“It’s very humbling, but one fine day doesn’t make a summer. Hopefully, I’ve got a long career ahead of me,” he said.
“I just turn up in the best possible condition.
“Obviously, this is our time of year to be performing, with the bigger races.
“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.”
“I’m feeling really good on the horses and the results are falling my way.” - James McDonald
The awarding of the Longines World’s Best Jockey title is based upon 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 December 1 of the previous year until November 30 of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, six points for placing second, and four points for placing third.
A ceremony will be held during the gala dinner of the Longines Hong Kong International Races on December 9 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to honour McDonald.
