Trainer Chris Waller says James McDonald will be among the greatest jockeys of all time as he closes in on Group 1 record

As James McDonald nears Damien Oliver’s Group 1 record, trainer Chris Waller believes the superstar jockey will be remembered with the same reverence.

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller says James McDonald will one day be spoken about as the greatest jockey of all time as he closes in on Damien Oliver’s Group 1 record.

McDonald sits on 119 Group 1 victories heading into the $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, just 10 behind legendary hoop Oliver.

The Sydney-based Kiwi has two chances to sneak closer to Oliver’s record, with rides on Rothfire ($15) in the Stradbroke and Hidden Achievement ($6) in the JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

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McDonald has racked up 15 Group 1 wins this season, just one shy of Hall of Fame jockey Malcolm Johnston’s national record set in 1979-80.

Asked where McDonald sat in the pantheon of jockeys, Waller replied: “He would be right up there.

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“He’s going to be one of the best of all-time.

“You mention Glen Bloss and Damien Oliver, they are proper Hall of Fame jockeys who have done it for a long time.

“James is close to them. All he needs is longevity.

“He looks after himself very well and he’s got the respect of his peers, including those two jockeys (Boss and Oliver) and the likes of Darren Beadman.

“It’s very hard for me to quantify where James sits but he’s certainly among the best jockeys that I’ve used from around the world.

“He’s a superstar and it’s great to see he’s getting the results and portrayed the way he is. He’s an all-round professional.”

James McDonald is just 10 wins behind Damien Oliver’s Group 1 record. Picture: Getty Images

Waller broke his own record last Saturday when he claimed his 19th Group 1, eclipsing the 18 majors he claimed during the 2018-19 season.

The top trainer surpassed the record when McDonald steered classy mare Joliestar to a tremendous come-from-behind victory in the Kingsford Smith Cup last Saturday.

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Asked what the record meant to him, Waller said: “I don’t really get too involved, I choose not to.

“Sometimes I get emotional when it hits you in the face and you’re asked straight after a race, that’s when it hits home.

“But I honestly don’t like to look too much back on what we’ve done.

“I am proud of it from a team perspective.

“We had a staff barbecue in Sydney during the week and made special mention of it and they were all really proud.”

McDonald secured his 15th Group 1 victory of the season with Joliestar last Saturday. Picture: Trackside Photography

Waller has two chances in the JJ Atkins – Hidden Achievement ($6) and Providence ($11) in a race he has won three times.

His three-year-old colt Coleman went into the Straddie field after Waller had scratched mare Firestorm from Queensland’s greatest race.

“He had a long time off the scene so he needed his first couple of runs,” Waller said about Coleman, who will be ridden by Reece Jones on Saturday.

“The horse has lost a little bit of confidence running on wet tracks but I think we’ve got him where he needs to be.

“The trick is just not panicking and respecting that he’s got the ability and hopefully it’s there when called upon.”

Originally published as Trainer Chris Waller says James McDonald will be among the greatest jockeys of all time as he closes in on Group 1 record