Jockey James McDonald secures new riding contract in Hong Kong

Champion jockey James McDonald, who is chasing the 100th Group 1 win of his career on Via Sistina in the Cox Plate on Saturday, has been granted a five-week riding contract in Hong Kong later this year.

Champion jockey James McDonald, who is chasing the 100th Group 1 win of his career on Via Sistina in the Cox Plate on Saturday, has been granted a five-week riding contract in Hong Kong later this year.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on Monday night that McDonald had been granted a visitor jockey’s licence from November 17 until December 22.

This period coincides with the prestigious Hong Kong International race meeting at Sha Tin on December 10.

McDonald won the Hong Kong International Cup on champion Romantic Warrior last year.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The superstar rider partners the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina in the Group 1 $5 million Cox Plate at The Valley on Saturday.

McDonald is chasing a third successive Cox Plate after his successes on Romantic Warrior (2023) and Anamoe (2022).

Via Sistina is currently on the second line of TAB Fixed Odds betting on the Cox Plate at $4.50 alongside Pride Of Jenni behind Japanese raider Prognosis at $3.

If Via Sistina can win the Cox Plate, McDonald will become only the fifth Australian-based jockey to ride 100 Group winners after Damien Oliver on 129 wins, George Moore (124), Hugh Bowman (106) and Jim Cassidy (104).

Originally published as Jockey James McDonald secures new riding contract in Hong Kong