Champion rider James McDonald joins Hong Kong roster on five-week contract
Sydney’s champion rider James McDonald will travel to Hong Kong for a lengthy stint to continue his partnership with Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney’s champion rider James McDonald is set to begin his longest ever Hong Kong stint later this month as the star jockey prepares to launch another Group 1 raid with Cox Plate hero Romantic Warrior.
McDonald has signed a short-term contract in the Asian racing mecca which will see him ride for the Hong Kong Jockey Club for five weeks following next Saturday’s The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange.
The contract runs until New Year’s Day and will allow McDonald to reunite with the Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior in the lead up to their next Group 1 assault in the Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, December 10.
The pair combined to win the same race last year and have maintained a successful partnership since then that reached a new peak when they captured the Cox Plate at The Valley last month.
* Richard Callander: I’m now convinced we just need to live with track bias
McDonald enjoyed another remarkable Spring Carnival with six Group 1 victories overall and recently another three majors during Melbourne Cup week with triumphs on Riff Rocket (Victoria Derby), Zardozi (VRC Oaks) and Atishu (Champions Stakes).
His arrival in Hong Kong comes on the back of the news that fellow Australian star Hugh Bowman will be out of the saddle for up to eight weeks after a fall on Sunday.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced Bowman had fractured his right scapula and three vertebrae after a fall at Sha Tin last weekend.
Earlier this week, McDonald was named as part of this year’s line up for the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday, December 6.
He will represent New Zealand at the annual meeting while fellow Sydney rider Rachel King is set make her IJC debut when representing Australia.
Among other riders to participate are Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand.
Originally published as Champion rider James McDonald joins Hong Kong roster on five-week contract
Jockey’s surprise Maher insight: ‘He has not changed one bit’:
A jockey who rode for Ciaron Maher in the early days says the trainer has barely changed – although he’s arguably more relaxed now than before he became a star.
Boom colt Growing Empire locked in for The Everest field
Manikato Stakes runner-up Growing Empire has given trainer Ciaron Maher his third starter in the world’s most lucrative sprint event at Royal Randwick next week.