![James McDonald on Fireball in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2248673.jpg)
Champion jockey James McDonald will miss Blue Diamond Day after being slapped with a 10 day suspension and a $20,000 fine for his winning ride on Fireball in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday.
Stewards took a dim view to McDonald’s efforts to get Fireball to change gears in the straight on his way to a half-length win from Ghana’s Akan and Alibaba.
McDonald used the whip nine times before the 100m mark, four over the limit, and 20 times in total as he lifted the Snitzel colt to a $1 million victory.
“Great credit to Chris [Waller], he had faith in the colt and said he is a very nice horse as you will see when he is put under pressure,” McDonald said after the win.
“He was put under pressure today and we saw how well he responded. With two-year-olds at this time of year it is all up [to the head].”
FIREBALL WINS A THRILLING INGLIS MILLENNIUM 🐦🔥
J-Mac and Waller combine to win the $2M prize in a huge finish!@mcacajamez @cwallerracing @jmeharron pic.twitter.com/UcUvL7LhMd
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 7, 2026
Fireball had a perfect trip and got clear running at the 300m mark, but seemed to float, which saw McDonald sit down and ride hard to get a change of gear.
It will undoubtedly open debate about the whip rules, which only come into focus in feature races.
Week in, week out, jockeys ride under the rules with most stewards noting whip breaches, but they rarely get to the point of suspensions.
Damian Lane was the last jockey to commit a major whip breach when he hit Treasurethe Moment 10 times before the 100m in the Australian Oaks last year and 20 times in total.
He was also given a 10 day suspension and $10,000 fine, which was in line with the McDonald penalty, the Oaks being worth half as much as the Millennium, under the whip rules template.
McDonald will take his penalty after Saturday’s Apollo Stakes meeting, where he will ride the unbeaten Autumn Glow, and he will return on February 25.
He was considering a trip to Melbourne if Joliestar went to the Futurity and for the Blue Diamond in two Saturdays’ time, but will be sidelined on that weekend.
