The world’s best jockey, James McDonald, still has races to win to make his career complete in his eyes.
He is first, a racing lover, and his love comes from watching the big races with the biggest tradition.
“I want to leave a mark and a legacy. There are still races I want to win, I have to win,” McDonald said, looking forward rather than back.
“To be in the top echelon, in my mind, you have to win the Caulfield Cup and the Doncaster, which I haven’t as yet.
”Caulfield Cup is tough because The Everest is on the same day, so get one shot every seven years. The Everest is so big, but the Caulfield Cup remains there as the race I need to win. I need to find the right horse at the right time. They talk grand slams and it’s in those four races, which I dreamed about.”
McDonald took the world’s best jockey award for the second time in 2024, and is well on his way to defending the title this year with 10 wins in the world’s top 100 races already.
He will probably ride in Sydney until The Everest day before heading to Melbourne for Via Sistina in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup week.
“Derby week is my go-to week of the spring,” McDonald said.
“I’m a racing purist. I love Derbies. I love Guineas. I love Oaks. I’m very traditional like that, and (Victoria) Derby is still one of the biggest days anywhere in the world. Usually, I have a good colt for the Coolmore and a mare for the Empire Rose, and I want the best ride in the Derby.”
He can also peek overseas to two of the world’s most famous races and hopes his connections can take him there.
“I want to ride in the English Derby and Prix de Arc Triomphe,” he said.
“I love the Epsom Derby. I don’t know what it would take to do that in this game but I have learnt doors open at the right time for me.”
McDonald’s links to Coolmore and the emerging Watham Racing could offer the chance McDonald dreams about.
He knows from his Melbourne Cup victory on Verry Elleegant, and Royal Ascot this year doors can open without warning.
“I went up to ride Carl Spackler at Royal Ascot and ended up riding for Watham,” McDonald said.
“Things can change quickly, I remember Verry Elleegant, I only got on her on Saturday before the Cup. They are becoming a very big stable now and they might have a couple of Derby runners next year.”
McDonald was delighted to be part of the team for Royal Ascot and would be available to ride for them if needed.
“They are making their mark and have bright people running the show with Olly Tait and Richard Brown. They are astute operators and to get that call was great,” McDonald said.
“James Doyle is their rider, so it was an easy fit. James and I are great mates and they had lots of runners at Royal Ascot. He had the pick, but when they have so many quality runners, you don’t always get it right. It is something I would do again.”
