James McDonald (jockey)

James McDonald (born 6 January 1992) is a New Zealand thoroughbred racing jockey and member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. On 2 November 2021, McDonald rode the winning horse Verry Elleegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. He is the World Jockey of the Year for 2021 in the TRC Global Rankings.

Group 1 winners (98)
McDonald has currently ridden 98 Group One winners:

Major wins
🇦🇺
 * AJC Derby (2) - It's A Dundeel (2013); Riff Rocket (2024)
 * All Aged Stakes (1) - Cascadian (2022)
 * Australian Oaks (2) - Rising Romance (2014); Verry Elleegant (2019)
 * Canterbury Stakes (2) - Cosmic Endeavour (2015); Holler (2016)
 * Caulfield Guineas (3) - Shooting To Win (2014); The Autumn Sun (2018); Golden Mile (2022)
 * Caulfield Stakes (1) - Anamoe (2022)
 * Champagne Stakes (2) - Captivant (2021); Broadsiding (2024)
 * Chipping Norton Stakes (4) - Contributer (2015); Verry Elleegant (2021); Verry Elleegant (2022); Anamoe (2023)
 * Coolmore Classic (1) - Zougotcha (2024)
 * Coolmore Stud Stakes (2) - Home Affairs (2021); In Secret (2022)
 * Cox Plate (2) - Anamoe (2022); Romantic Warrior (2023)
 * Darley Sprint Classic (3) - Delectation (2015); Nature Strip (2019); Nature Strip (2021)
 * Doomben Cup (1) - Zaaki (2021)
 * Empire Rose Stakes (1) - Shillelagh (2018)
 * Epsom Handicap (1) - Hauraki (2016)
 * Flight Stakes (2) - Funstar (2019); Zougotcha (2022)
 * George Main Stakes (3) - Verry Elleegant (2021); Anamoe (2022); Fangirl (2023)
 * George Ryder Stakes (2) - Real Impact (2015); Anamoe (2023)
 * Golden Rose Stakes (2) - Exosphere (2015); Astern (2016)
 * Golden Slipper Stakes (1) - Mossfun (2014)
 * J. J. Atkins (1) - Broadsiding (2024)
 * Lightning Stakes (1) - Home Affairs (2022)
 * Mackinnon Stakes (2) - Zaaki (2021); Atishu (2023)
 * Melbourne Cup (1) - Verry Elleegant (2021)
 * Moir Stakes (1) - Nature Strip (2019)
 * Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1) - It's A Dundeel (2014)
 * Queen of the Turf Stakes (1) - Zougotcha (2024)
 * Queensland Derby (2) - Kukeracha (2021); Kovalica (2023)
 * Queensland Oaks (1) - Scarlett Lady (2011)
 * Randwick Guineas (1) - It's A Dundeel (2013)
 * Ranvet Stakes (3) - Contributer (2015); Verry Elleegant (2021); Via Sistina (2024)
 * Rosehill Guineas (2) - It's A Dundeel (2013); Anamoe (2022)
 * Sires' Produce Stakes (1) - Anamoe (2021)
 * Spring Champion Stakes (1) - It's A Dundeel (2012)
 * Tancred Stakes (3) - Hartnell (2015); Avilius (2019); Verry Elleegant (2020)
 * The Galaxy (2) - Temple Of Boom (2012); Nature Strip (2019)
 * The Metropolitan (1) - Magic Hurricane (2015)
 * The Thousand Guineas (2) - Madame Pommery (2022); Joliestar (2023)
 * TJ Smith Stakes (3) - Nature Strip (2020); Nature Strip (2021); Nature Strip (2022)
 * Turnbull Stakes (1) - Hartnell (2016)
 * Underwood Stakes (1) - It's A Dundeel (2014)
 * Victoria Derby (1) - Riff Rocket (2023)
 * Vinery Stud Stakes (2) - Verry Elleegant (2019); Orchestral (2024)
 * VRC Oaks (1) - Zardozi (2023)
 * Winx Stakes (3) - Verry Elleegant (2020); Anamoe (2022); Fangirl (2023)

🇳🇿
 * Auckland Cup (1) - Shez Sinsational (2012)
 * Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1) - Keep The Peace (2011)
 * Mudgway Stakes (1) - Keep The Peace (2010)
 * New Zealand Derby (1) - Silent Achiever (2012)
 * New Zealand International Stakes (1) - Shez Sinsational (2012)
 * New Zealand Oaks (1) - Jungle Rocket (2009)
 * New Zealand Stakes (1) - Scarlett Lady (2012)
 * New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1) - Special Mission (2008)
 * Telegraph Handicap (1) - Guiseppina (2012)
 * Zabeel Classic (2) - Shez Sinsational (2011); True Enough (2019)


 * King's Stand Stakes - (1) - Nature Strip (2022)


 * Champions Mile - (1) - Xtension (2012)
 * Hong Kong Cup - (2) - Romantic Warrior (2022, 2023)
 * Hong Kong Stewards' Cup - (1) - Voyage Bubble (2024)
 * Queen Elizabeth II Cup - (2) - Romantic Warrior (2023, 2024)
 * Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup - (1) - Lucky Sweynesse (2023)
 * Hong Kong Gold Cup - (1) - Romantic Warrior (2024)

🇯🇵
 * Yasuda Kinen - (1) Romantic Warrior (2024)