The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Entries

Race Card

Race Card Trackwork Past Incidents Extract Form Line Report Exceptional Factors Veterinary Records

Current Odds

Trainers' Entries

Trainers' Entries for the Day TNC Entries List

Jockeys' Rides

Jockeys' Rides For The Day JKC Scheduled Rides List

Reference Info

Changes General Information Raceday Focus SpeedPRO Stats Centre Last Run Reminder Intro to New Horses Horse Movement Records Jockey/Trainer Combo & Debutants Performance Tips Index Course Selection Course Information Course Standard & Record Times Rules of Racing and Instructions Equipment Register (Equine and Human) of HKJC Bloodstock Agents Handicapping Policy All Up Calculator T-T Auto Pick Weather and Track Condition

Statistics

Draw Statistics Trainer Challenge Odds Chart Trainer Challenge Statistics Jockey Challenge Odds Chart Jockey Challenge Statistics Jockeys' Favourite Trainers' Favourite

Results

Report

Racing Incident Report Comments on Running

Jockeys & Trainers

Jockeys Trainers

Horses

Horses Rating List PP/PPG and ISG Bonuses Trackwork Barrier Trial Results Veterinary Records Latest on Horses Health Record Horse Former Name & Pedigree Horse Import Criteria Veterinary Pre-import Exam Protocol PP Pre-import Performance

Barrier Trial Results

Fixtures

J McDonald

Other Jockeys

James McDonald

Age: 33

Background:
Regarded as one of the world’s best jockeys, James McDonald – popularly known as ‘J-Mac’ – made a big impression in Hong Kong on his International Jockeys’ Championship debut when still a teenager back in 2011, finishing runner-up to Frankie Dettori. He returned the following May and partnered Xtension to victory in the 2012 Champions Mile at Sha Tin. Champion Apprentice in his homeland, he went on to claim the Championship there twice, firstly in 2008/09 and latterly with a New Zealand record tally of 207 for the 2010/11 season. In 2012 he won a first New Zealand Derby. He clinched his first Sydney Championship in 2014. In 2021, he won the Melbourne Cup – Australia’s most famous race – aboard Verry Elleegant, Darley Sprint Classic with Nature Strip, Coolmore Stud Stakes atop Home Affairs and Mackinnon Stakes with Zaaki. He scored a famous victory aboard Nature Strip in the 2022 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and was crowned the World’s Best Jockey that same year. McDonald has built a famed association with Hong Kong’s global champion Romantic Warrior, winning the Hong Kong Cup (2022-2024) three times, QEII Cup (2023 & 2024) twice and 2023 W.S. Cox Plate in Australia before the duo landed the 2024 Yasuda Kinen in Japan. The pair then famously campaigned to the Middle East, where they came agonisingly close to Saudi Cup glory in 2025 when defeated by Japan’s Forever Young. In 2025, another of his partnerships linked with Hong Kong saw the rider and Voyage Bubble complete the Triple Crown last season – becoming only the second in history to do so after legend River Verdon (1993/94). He has won over 100 Group 1 races globally, including the past four runnings of the W.S. Cox Plate with Anamoe (2022), Romantic Warrior (2023) and Via Sistina (2024 & 2025).

Honours:
Sydney Champion Jockey (2013/14, 2015/16, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23, 2023/24); New Zealand Champion Jockey (2008/09 & 2010/11). World’s Best Jockey Award winner (2022 & 2024).

IJC record:
2024 – 2nd (DH); 2023 – 8th (DH); 2022 – 9th (DH); 2021 – 2nd (DH); 2019 – 10th; 2015 - 9th; 2014 - 3rd; 2012 - 10th (DH); 2011 – 2nd.

25/26 Season Up to Race Meeting of 10/12/2025
Nationality	: NZ	No. of Wins	: 6	Total Rides	: 60
Stakes won	: $13,693,310	No. of 2nds	: 7	Win %	: 10.00%
No. of Wins in past 10 race days	: 6	No. of 3rds	: 7
		No. of 4ths	: 4

Previous Season

Other Jockeys