James McDonald (jockey)

James McDonald
James McDonald
	McDonald winning the Hong Kong Cup at the Sha Tin Racecourse in 2023
Nickname	JMac, J-Mac
Occupation	Jockey
Born	6 January 1992 (age 33); Kaipaki, New Zealand
Weight	55 kg (121 lb)
Honours
	New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2021); World Jockey of the Year (2021, 2024)
Significant horses
	Verry Elleegant,It's A Dundeel,Nature Strip,Anamoe,Romantic Warrior,Via Sistina

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 (108)

McDonald has currently ridden 108 Group One winners, including 83 in Australia, 11 in New Zealand, 11 in Hong Kong and one each in Japan, United Kingdom and UAE:^[3]

Major wins

Australia

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)