James McDonald

Busier Christmas-New Year than McDonald planned

Posted on December 16, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News, New Zealand Horse Racing News

Champion jockey James McDonald will be on a working holiday when he takes a break from his busy Sydney schedule to return home to Cambridge for Christmas. Despite being in contention for the New South Wales Jockeys Premiership, McDonald is keen to have Christmas in New Zealand with his family, but the trip has been[...]

Posted on December 12, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

A positive lead from top jockey James McDonald has reinforced John Sargent's confidence ahead of Encountabull's Inglis Nursery bid at Randwick. McDonald partnered Encountabull when he flashed home for a debut fourth at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day and was impressed enough to make a long-range commitment to ride him in Saturday's race. “He[...]

Posted on December 5, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Premier Sydney jockey James McDonald has finished out of the placings in the International Jockeys Championship won by Karis Teetan representing Hong Kong. The series was held over four races on Wednesday's Happy Valley as part of the build-up to Sunday's Hong Kong International day. Teetan was favourite afer drawing a good book of rides[...]

Posted on November 23, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Leading trainer Chris Waller has capped a lucrative spring carnival, winning the inaugural $1 million Gong at Kembla Grange with warhorse Mister Sea Wolf. Sent out at $23, the eight-year-old raced just off the speed for James McDonald and reeled in Quackerjack ($6.50) late to win by a head. It was a sweet victory for[...]

Posted on November 19, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

James McDonald will represent Australia at the International Jockeys Challenge in Hong Kong. The New-Zealander has been based in Sydney for several years and has won the premiership three times. The IJC is scheduled to be be held at Happy Valley on December 4 but two meetings have been cancelled at the track in recent[...]

Posted on November 16, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

A rev-up from Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman was all the impetus James McDonald needed to turn in a faultless riding display and win the inaugural $1 million The Hunter aboard Savatiano. McDonald eased Savatiano across from her outside draw, controlling the tempo and kicking clear at the top of the straight to put the[...]

Posted on November 9, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Racing Victoria stewards have adjourned an inquiry into a alleged incident between a jockey and a trainer at Flemington. Stewards took evidence from retiring jockey Stephen Baster, trainer Glenn Thornton and Victoria Racing Club security officer Simon Ogden. Baster rode for the final time at the Melbourne Cup carnival which finished on Saturday after a[...]

Posted on November 9, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

A breathtaking performance from Nature Strip in the Darley Sprint Classic has captured the powerful sprinter his third Group One win for the year. The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip made a one-act affair of Saturday's $2 million weight-for-age race over the 1200m straight course at Flemington, leaving some established sprinters behind to score by 3-1/4-lengths.[...]

Posted on November 2, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Star jockey James McDonald has executed a stand-out ride, piloting Godolphin stalwart Tally to a comeback victory in the inaugural Rosehill Gold Cup. The champion Sydney rider found cover aboard the $4 favourite and threaded a gap at the 400m before streaking away to win Saturday's new $500,000 support race on the Golden Eagle program.[...]

Posted on October 24, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Jockey James McDonald needs Verry Elleegant to be on her best behaviour when she runs at The Valley for the first time in the Cox Plate. And after galloping her twice at the track, McDonald is confident she is in the right frame of mind. Trainer Chris Waller is chasing a fifth straight Cox Plate[...]

Posted on October 16, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Verry Elleegant is set to head to the Cox Plate after galloping at The Valley and will not be an acceptor for the Caulfield Cup. Trainer Chris Waller wanted to give Verry Elleegant a look at The Valley ahead of the Cox Plate, at the same time keeping options open on a Caulfield Cup start.[...]

Posted on October 16, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Jockey James McDonald has given Verry Elleegant the thumbs-up after riding her at The Valley ahead of a potential start in the Cox Plate. Trainer Chris Waller wanted to see how the dual Group One-winning mare handled The Valley before committing to a start in the Cox Plate on October 26 or running Verry Elleegant[...]

Posted on September 28, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

A solid track work gallop with stablemate and subsequent Golden Rose winner Bivouac convinced James Cummings that Ranier could return to the winner's list and the horse delivered with victory in the final event at Rosehill. Just two races after Bivouac claimed the Group One Golden Rose (1400m), his workout partner put the icing on[...]

Posted on September 28, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Mister Sea Wolf has continued the winning run of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald with his victory In the Group Two Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. Waller and McDonald combined to win Friday night's Group One Moir Stakes at The Valley in Melbourne with Nature Strip and returned to Sydney for Saturday's meeting at[...]

Posted on September 25, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Epsom Handicap favourite Te Akau Shark has had a gallop between races at Canterbury, with jockey James McDonald and trainer Jamie Richards pleased with his condition. The New Zealand gelding finished second to Dreamforce in his first Australian start in the Tramway Stakes but still retains favouritism for the Group One Epsom (1600m) on Saturday[...]

Posted on September 20, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Te Akau Racing has confirmed it has booked James McDonald to partner New Zealand raider Te Akau Shark in the Group One Epsom Handicap. McDonald has retained the mount after riding the dual Group winner at his Australian debut when he finished runner-up to Dreamforce in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick on September 7. Te[...]

Posted on September 17, 2019
in Australian Horse Racing News

Glen Boss has snared the prized mount on Happy Clapper in the George Main Stakes with Hugh Bowman to sit out the Randwick meeting as he recovers from a broken finger. Bowman had hoped to be riding on Saturday when his other scheduled mounts included 2018 Everest placegetter Osborne Bulls who stakes his claim for[...]

Busier Christmas-New Year than McDonald planned

Mcdonald Shows Faith In Nursery Prospect

Karis Teetan Wins Hong Kong Jockey Challenge

Waller’s Wolf Takes Out Inaugural $1m Gong

Mcdonald To Ride In Hk Jockey Challenge

Godolphin Clean Up In Newcastle Features

Stewards Probe Jockey, Trainer Incident

Nature Strip Stars In Group 1 Sprint Classic

Tally Too Strong In Rosehill Gold Cup Win

Mcdonald Buoyed By Elleegant Valley Work

Waller Gives Verry Elleegant Cox Plate Nod

Verry Elleegant Gets A Look At The Valley

Ranier Caps Golden Afternoon For Godolphin

Mister Sea Wolf Wins Group 2 Shannon Stakes

Te Akau Shark Has Day Out At Canterbury

Mcdonald Booked For Shark In Epsom

Hugh Bowman Sidelined By Broken Finger

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