James McDonald equals Group 1 season record with Doomben 10,000 triumph on Sunshine In Paris

Champion hoop James McDonald admits he was getting worried in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 before lifting Sunshine In Paris to a thrilling victory over Queensland warrior Rothfire.

James McDonald and Sunshine In Paris prevail in a tight finish with Rothfire in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

It takes a lot to surprise James McDonald but the superstar jockey conceded he got a “hell of a fright” as he was forced to pull out all stops to deny a remarkable Queensland warrior in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.

McDonald equalled his career-best season with his 19th Group 1 win of the season and now mighty mare Sunshine In Paris looks a likely contender for the 2025 Everest after a nailbiting Doomben 10,000 triumph.

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But McDonald, riding the favourite who was strongly backed from $4.20 to $3.30, had to dig deep to get past ageless Queensland star Rothfire, who started $41.

Another Queenslander, $51 roughie Payline, rounded out the placings to complete a big day for Chris Munce who earlier trained a pair of winners.

There were huge cheers from the Sunshine In Paris camp as Rob and Annabel Archibald celebrated their first Group 1 together since their recent wedding.

But it was far from easy pickings as McDonald fought out one of his tougher Group 1 wins.

“That Rothfire, he is as tough as they come,” McDonald said.

“I was worried at the furlong that I wasn’t going to get to him.

“He had a tougher run than we did, but he kept surging.

“Credit to him, he gave me a hell of a fright.”

Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 💪 @[e-mail]/DJaWJwBHJI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025

• What the jockeys said: 2025 Doomben 10,000

The heavy Doomben track meant some Doomben 10,000 runners were always going to struggle to be there at the business end.

But Sunshine In Paris looked to be travelling well a long way from home in the first Group 1 of the Queensland winter carnival.

But Rothfire would simply not be denied and kept kicking, despite trainer Rob Heathcote knowing his seven-year-old galloper who won his Group 1 at age two was not at his best on heavy tracks.

“We’ve been knocked off by arguably one of the best mares in the country and he’s done Queensland proud,” Heathcote declared.

“I knew he would run a big race today because I had faith in his courage and he’s proven that. He’s as tough as they come.

“He’s been a warrior for me his entire life.

“I shudder to think what he would have been had he not suffered that injury earlier in his career.

“The old bugger, he runs on three legs but he’s not lame, he’s not sore.”

A smiling James McDonald returns to the winner’s enclosure. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography.

Rob Archibald said it was full credit to Sunshine In Paris who nabbed her third career Group 1.

“I’m just so pleased for the mare, she’s been great all preparation but she just hasn’t had a good draw, so I’m really pleased it worked out well,” he said.

“Thanks to her owners for being brave enough and supportive enough to run her on a track which probably isn’t to her liking.”

Of the beaten brigade, Overpass’s jockey Josh Parr blamed the heavy track conditions for a ninth-placed finish.

“It’s unfortunate that we got such a putrid track here today,” Parr said.

“He tried his hardest but he couldn’t go on the ground.”

Originally published as James McDonald equals Group 1 season record with Doomben 10,000 triumph on Sunshine In Paris