James McDonald (jockey) explained

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 (104)

McDonald has currently ridden 104 Group One winners:^[3]

Major wins

• 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 (4) - Contributer (2015); Verry Elleegant (2021); Verry Elleegant (2022); Anamoe (2023)
• 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)
• 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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• 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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• King's Stand Stakes - (1) - Nature Strip (2022)

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

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

References

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