James McDonald’s bid for Group 1 record at Stradbroke Handicap meeting in doubt because of illness

Superstar jockey James McDonald is battling an illness which could derail his bid to equal, and possibly break, the national Group 1 riding record at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Champion jockey James McDonald is battling illness but has vowed to do everything he can to ride at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

McDonald was too ill to ride at Wednesday’s Kensington meeting and was still obviously unwell when he spoke to News Corp on Friday.

But the superstar jockey remains hopeful he can ride at Eagle Farm where he has bookings in seven races including Rothfire in the Group 1 $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Hidden Achievement in the Group 1 $1m JJ Atkins (1400m).

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Just a week after McDonald helped Chris Waller set a national training record for most Group 1 wins in a season, the jockey has the chance to equal or break a national record himself on Saturday.

McDonald needs just one more major to equal “Miracle” Malcolm Johnston’s longstanding national Group 1 riding record of 16 majors in a season that has stood since 1979-80.

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“I haven’t been feeling well since Wednesday,’’ McDonald said.

“I don’t know what it is, some sort of virus.

“But I’ll be doing my best to ride. I will be doing everything I can to be there.

“Put it this way, it would take a lot for me to miss a big day like Stradbroke day. I want to get there to ride in the first race and see how I go.’’

Gun jockey James McDonald is battling illness ahead of his Group 1 rides aboard Rothfire (top right) and Hidden Achievement at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

McDonald’s first ride is in the Eagle Farm opener, the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) on the Chris Waller-trained Emirate.

His other rides are Etna Rosso in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m), Quietly Arrogant in the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m), Firestorm in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) and Militarize in the Group 2 Q22 (2200m).

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McDonald has had a sensational 2024-25 and rode his 15th Australian Group 1 winner on Joliestar in the Kingsford Smith Cup last week. He’s also ridden six Group 1 winners overseas.

Joliestar provided Waller with a record 19th Group 1 win for the season.

J-MAC’S STRADBROKE DAY RIDES

Race 1: Emirate, Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m), $3.40

Race 3: Etna Rosso, Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m), $3

Race 4: Quietly Arrogant, Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m), $3.70

Race 6: Hidden Achievement, Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m), $6

Race 7: Firestorm, Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes, (1300m), $4.20

Race 8: Rothfire, Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), $15

Race 9: Militarize, Group 2 Q22 (2200m), $5.50

Originally published as James McDonald’s bid for Group 1 record at Stradbroke Handicap meeting in doubt because of illness