‘It’s the right time to be back’: J-Mac returns on Saturday with eyes on another record spring

It seems fitting James McDonald’s last three Australian winners have been Group 1 races in Brisbane at the end of a record-breaking 2025-26.

McDonald returns to the saddle at Randwick to close the season on Saturday, but it is a trend that he doesn’t want to continue.

“I’d like to think I’ll have another winner before the next Group 1,” he said.

“It is a good day to come with a handful of rides, a nice two-year-old [Letters Patent] for Chris Waller and a one for by good mate Kris Lees [Hawker Hall], who I have a good record with.

“I didn’t need to come for the premiership, but it’s the right time to be back to get ready for the spring. It’s good to be back in Sydney.”

McDonald will be confirmed as a 10-time Sydney champion jockey this week, the past eight titles in succession.

But it is Group 1 racing where he makes his name and his last three winners are Tron Bolt in the JJ Atkins, Providence in the Queensland Derby and Birdman in the Doomben Cup before heading to Royal Ascot and a holiday.

It finished a Group 1 season, which was the most successful by a jockey in Australia with his 17 wins, and also saw him past Damien Oliver’s record career mark for overall Group 1 wins.

The number sits at 141, with McDonald adding another five Group 1s on Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong this season, and it will grow towards 200 in the next couple of years.

“It is an amazing season. You don’t think too much about the numbers but to get those records is special,” McDonald said.

“You can look back now and think that will be a hard season to beat, but I said that last year as well.

“I’m lucky to be part of a good team with Chris Waller and we just work well together.

“Chris has got my back, and these days I leave it to him what I ride because he just usually gets it right.

“It is great to ride for him because we know each other so well and what is expected.

“He sometimes says to me that horse doesn’t suit you and I trust that he gets it right.”

Part of being a team is about preparation and McDonald started that when he returned from his break in the mornings at Rosehill.

The next step was the first barrier trials this week, where he got a feel of Autumn Glow, Aeliana and Angel Capital among others.

“Autumn Glow and Aeliana have both come back stronger, it is an interesting time of year,” McDonald said. “There are a lot of horses that have come back a bit better than last time.

“There is a lot to look forward to this spring.”