How is J-Mac not in the Hall of Fame yet?
James McDonald was feted and celebrated by the Rosehill crowd as he rode Group 1 winner 131 on Saturday, but remarkably, he has yet to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame.
He will get there, that is assured, but what are they doing not having him in there already?
He has ridden 101 Australian Group 1 winners, won nine Sydney jockeys’ premierships and shot to worldwide fame for his riding.
Chris Waller, who was put in the Hall Of Fame with Winx, and McDonald have won more Group 1 races together than any other combination in history. They went past Tommy Smith and George Moore, who both have legend status in the Hall Of Fame on Saturday.
The top-10 Group 1 winningest trainers and the other nine of the top-10 winningest jockeys are in the Hall of Fame, making McDonald being overlooked more baffling.
It is understood he was put up to be inducted last year, and NSW representative Greg Radley fought hard to get him recognised, but Zac Purton was the jockey to be put in. The reason, only one jockey could go in.
McDonald and Purton, our best jockeys in the 21st century, could have, and should have been celebrated on the same night.
It is the weakness of the Hall Of Fame that it restricts how many inductees can be put in each year.
The panel is also still trying to catch up with 200 years of racing history and honour those who have excelled in the sport.
There needs to be a baseline set for what is a Hall Of Fame career in the sport and that could be done by pushing all those that qualify into the Hall Of Fame.
It has to be a special and outstanding career, but if you are going to miss McDonald, who else is missing?
There are other glaring omissions from the Hall Of Fame.
Love or hate him, Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys should be in there. He delivered billions of dollars via his successful fight for racefields fees that sustains the Australian industry and make it the envy of the world.
Max Presnell and Ken Callander should both be in the Hall Of Fame after spending more than 50 years in the sport. Both were on all forms of the media – TV, radio and print – and recognisable outside the racing bubble to wider community as the faces of the sport.
JAMES MCDONALD STANDS ALONE. 130 GROUP ONES 👑
J-Mac takes the Group 1 record with a trademark ride on Autumn Boy to win the Rosehill Guineas! It’s history at Rosehill 🏆@mcacajamez @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/Npg4vwEwKY
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 21, 2026
Slipper day draws a crowd as the Glow of racing is back
The stands were full at Rosehill on Saturday, and the roar was back on Golden Slipper day.
After a number of years, where the Slipper lost its lustre, James McDonald’s record-breaking moment had punters back on track.
As he lifted Aeliana to victory in the Ranvet Stakes, the crowd lifted with him.
Then Autumn Boy gave him the record, but it was the reaction to Autumn Glow that might be an insight to the future.
She got the applause reserved for a star on her way back after the George Ryder Stakes, after McDonald was left to simply point at her crossing the line.
She is the best since Winx and while she is unbeaten the aura will grow.
Australians star in Hong Kong Derby
In many ways, it was Australia’s day as Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Ibis smashed the Sha Tin 2000m record to win the Hong Kong Derby on Sunday.
A perfect steer from Hugh Bowman, who chalked up his third Derby win, saw Invincible Ibis, a son of Hellbent, grab leader Numbers late on to win.
“As we started to come round the home turn, I thought ‘I’m in business here, I really am’,” Bowman said. “The run was economical, so when I brought him to the outside and let him down, it was no surprise that he went the way that he did and I’m very proud of him. It means a lot to win the race for a third time and being based here now, and it makes it a bit more special for some reason or other.”
Newnham has become one of Hong Kong’s leading trainers after moving there a couple of years ago, and the Derby was his crowning moment after running second with My Wish last year.
The Derby winner in Hong Kong carries expectations but Newnham is no rush to take on Romantic Warrior just yet. He will opt for the Champions Mile at the end of April.
“We’ll be looking at that [Champions Day] as long as his recovery’s good from today,” Newnham said. “But I’m probably more inclined to run him in the Mile. I just don’t think taking on Romantic Warrior and a few of the internationals at 2000m, I don’t think he’s seasoned enough for that yet, despite his win today and the time he’s run.”
“He’s beating horses of his own age group, so I don’t think we need to throw him to the wolves just yet – horses can have a long career here, so there’s no need to be testing him too much beyond his limits.”
Where will Winx colt be sold?
It is no clearer when the Snitzel colt out of Winx will be sold, as the Inglis Easter Sales began this week.
The colt was withdrawn from the sale because of injury and is now likely to be sold as a two-year-old to give him time to recover and develop.
There is no doubt that he will attract worldwide interest being the first colt of the family when he is on offer for the public. It is highly unlikely a deal will be done privately.
One bloodstock insider said, “A bespoke online sale might be the way to go.”
Cleary gets his J-Mac dream for the Country Championships
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary was delighted when he won the South East Country Championships qualifier with Vermicella, but his confidence has soared with James McDonald to ride in next month’s Final.
The mare is owned by Gerry Harvey, and Cleary cheekily asked Luke McDonald, Harvey’s racing manager, “Why don’t we get your brother to ride in the Final?”
He had to wait for the wildcards to play out, but Cleary has got his man in the saddle.
“What do they say, start with the best and work your way down,” Cleary said. “Well, we didn’t get to number two.”
“I must thank Luke and James’ manager Mark Guest for getting him on her.”
“Now he just has to get the job done.”
