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McDonald collects second LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award By Daryl Timms 07/12/2024 12:10 Fresh from the official presentation of the 2024 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award, New Zealander James McDonald is aiming for more success in tomorrow’s (Sunday, 8 December) LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin. A proud McDonald, who is on a short riding stint in Hong Kong until he returns to Sydney on 22 December, was formally announced as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award winner during a special ceremony and presentation at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday evening (6 December). It was the second time Australia-based McDonald has won the award, after first winning it in 2022. He won nine of the world’s top 100 Group 1 features from December 2023 until November 30, 2024 – LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (Romantic Warrior), Stewards’ Cup (Voyage Bubble), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Romantic Warrior), Ranvet Stakes (Via Sistina), FWD QEII Cup (Romantic Warrior), Yasuda Kinen (Romantic Warrior), W.S. Cox Plate (Via Sistina), VRC Champions Sprint (Sunshine in Paris) and VRC Champions Stakes (Via Sistina). The 32-year-old held onto win the award by just 10 points from four-time winner, Englishman Ryan Moore (150). William Buick was third with 105 points. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, six points for second, and four points for third in races which feature in the LONGINES World’s Top 100 Group 1 races. Moore, needed a victory aboard Auguste Rodin in last month’s Japan Cup to leapfrog McDonald but finished eighth to Do Deuce, ridden by Japanese legend Yutaka Take. McDonald was presented with a watch from LONGINES Chief Executive Officer Matthias Breschan and a crystal vase by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, in his role as Chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). McDonald finished third in the award last year. Frankie Dettori, who is also a four-time winner, was second. Now with a career total of 104 Group 1 victories, four of McDonald’s eligible winners in the competition, were on champion Hong Kong stayer Romantic Warrior who he rides in tomorrow’s HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m). McDonald is bidding to create history with Romantic Warrior becoming the first horse to win three editions of the Hong Kong Cup. His rides in the other three features are Ensued in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Howdeepisyourlove in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and Voyage Bubble in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m). McDonald said he didn’t expect to win another LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title and this time it probably meant more because he’d now won it twice. “When you look at Frankie (Dettori) winning four and Ryan (Moore) winning four, it’s such a hard award to win and it’s such a long season and you’re so consistent and to be able to be part of a big horse’s journey and at the moment I’m blessed because I’ve got two (Romantic Warrior and Via Sistina),” he said. McDonald said he had idolised past winners Dettori, Moore and Hugh Bowman and aspired to be as good as them. Since winning the first award, McDonald said he now believes he is mentally stronger which has been helped with overseas exposure. “And nothing beats experience and I think the ultimate and third thing I have learnt is that to be to cope with what Frankie, Ryan and Hughie (Bowman) have been able to do and ride champion race horses and to be able to cope with the sort of pressure,” he said. “Look, I thoroughly enjoy it and I think it is a very privileged position to be in and I think that’s grown on me to be able to ride great race horses on the biggest stage whether it’s Royal Ascot or Hong Kong International meeting.” Despite the early morning starts and continual race meetings in Australia, McDonald says he loves what he does and doesn’t see it as a job. “Romantic Warrior, I keep bringing him up, but he has taken me to a new level that I didn’t think was possible,” McDonald said. “There is no doubt you have doubts about things and I think until you feel it, breath it, you won’t ever get to that level and now I just embrace the animal I am riding and embrace the race that we are riding in and I know for a fact that on Sunday the Hong Kong Cup means a hell of a lot to not only myself and the connections that are physically involved in him.” With such a big fan following, McDonald said he was also riding Romantic Warrior for Hong Kong, who he described as everyone’s horse, and hoped to be part of the history of riding the gelding to a record third Hong Kong Cup.
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You can't rush things duckie. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day. You'd think they could/would make an effort for such an important day wouldn't you??? If we're really lucky we'll be able to bet before the first - but we mustn't over excite ourselves with that thought. Thanks for the info.
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By Bright Spot · Posted
I took a head to head bet at Trentham today in race 5, 2 to beat 1 for $30 Watched the race and yay no.2 5th and no.1 6th, however TAB result was the other way? Watched it again on love racing and it appears I'm right by a head! Wrang the TAB, alas no help, Am I wrong? I feel this mistake has cost me over $30? -
The author of this thread hasnt proven to be a cry baby spammer. They are entitled to an opinion and discussion. If they too decide to be a sooky for months on end about the same old thing, they can have the Palliser treatment too.
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TAB finally has the Sha Tin races up for tomorrow but you can't bet on them yet.
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Outstanding Kiwi. https://www.racing.com/news/2024-12-07/news-international-jmac-worlds-best-jockey-071224
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Omen bet of the day, OP on Ladies Man. And the trainer had put blinkers on. Helped the horse. Just not the jockey.
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By Basil brush · Posted
Best laugh of the day.When being interviewed and told he now had 99 group 1's Opie very sheepishly said :Would probably be 110 if I could keep my life on track" -
Trentham, Race #4, Horse #5. I'm sure if that's what it says on my screen, it will say the same on yours, n0?
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Lets play your game Palliser. " I was quoting the form comments that said firstly, definite improver here, secondly, to many here are superior, and thirdly has upside." Where does it say in that formline comment that too many are superior in the race? Where does it say that? I cant wait for you to defend yourself and show me where the word superior is used.
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As usual you continue to admit the truth Biden lied and is just as corrupt as the rest on the left no matter how you try and shift the attention elsewhere
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Opie successful in the G1 aboard Ladies Man.... the jokes practically write themselves
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Lost the jockey challenge but $10 over $40 on Bryce's Meddle got $280 . Tim W he is the man what a driver
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rather call out you the tab gets the form info from aussie and its a formatting issue if you no websites you will know sometimes it can be beyond your control unless theres a it person there 24 7 which there wont be move on
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Call out the Author of this thread, with whom I totally agree with and are simply supporting what was pointed out, and agreed with so many others
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I find saying my constant this and that extremely rich coming from you lols. Please tell me who else apart from your fine self is calling me out for stating facts ?? I notice as with Horse neither of you has proven me wrong as I have asked above. You can't prove me wrong. So instead just attack me.
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Sort of stuffs your reasoning then……
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