Jockey James McDonald salutes the judge after his victory on Orchestral at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Champion Cambridge jockey James McDonald broke the Australasian Group One record for wins – with the words of former All Black coach Steve Hansen ringing in his ears.
McDonald, who is based in Sydney, matched Damien Oliver’s record of 129 wins, then passed it at Rosehill last weekend.
James McDonald wins his 130th Group One race aboard Autumn Boy at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Bradley Photos
The New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame rider revealed he received a text from Hansen ahead of the two wins telling him: “Walk straight into it, grab it with both hands and walk straight into it”.
“I was thinking to myself, imagine him sitting down with the All Blacks, a 15 squad of men, our greatest sport in New Zealand, and he’s saying, ‘Walk into it, embrace it’.
“I thought that was quite special because it took me back a little bit.”
McDonald, 34, duly rode the New Zealand-bred mare Aeliana to victory in the Ranvet Stakes, to match the record, then surpassed it aboard Autumn Boy in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), and extended his lead in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) aboard Autumn Glow, all for expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller.
McDonald, who attended Kaipaki, Cambridge Middle and Cambridge High schools, has won the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award on three occasions, and among his Group One wins have been six aboard Nature Strip – part owned by Hansen.
In Jue 2024 Waipā District Council announced McDonald would be inducted into the Cambridge Sports Walk of Fame – after being nominated by Good Local Media editor Roy Pilott. The council has a plaque prepared and is waiting for a time convenient to McDonald.
