Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald tests negative to Covid after Verry Elleegant bash

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey James McDonald has returned a negative Covid test after attending a party that has produced more than a dozen cases of the virus.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey James McDonald has returned a negative Covid test after attending a party celebrating his big win. Picture: Getty Images

Racing Victoria says jockey James McDonald and two other riders have tested negative for Covid-19 after attending a Melbourne Cup celebration party that has produced more than a dozen cases of the virus.

McDonald rode the Chris Waller-trained Verry Elleegant to a memorable Melbourne Cup win for a group that included high-profile owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir.

McDonald and two other riders later attended Sokolski’s celebration bash at the Society restaurant in Collins Street in the city, which has been the scene of a Covid outbreak.

Kheir later tested positive for the virus while Sokolski returned a negative test.

Racing NSW stewards ordered McDonald and fellow riders Hugh Bowman, Kerrin McEvoy, Nash Rawiller and Rachel King to isolate pending the results of their Covid tests.

Bowman, Rawiller, McEvoy and King were sent into isolation because they rode alongside McDonald on the final two days of the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.

Verry Elleegant’s owners Ozzie Kheir (left) and Brae Sokolski (right) before the brilliant mare’s Melbourne Cup win. Picture: Mark Stewart

McDonald will still need to pass another Covid test later in the week before he can ride at the rich The Hunter meeting at Newcastle on Saturday.

RV later confirmed McDonald and two other riders, who they refused to name, had all tested negative.

News Corp Australia understands Brett Prebble, who rode runner-up Incentivise which is also part-owned by Kheir and Sokolski, attended the soiree.

An RV spokesperson also reported stewards had no issue with jockeys being at the gathering as it was not breaching any current Covid-19 protocols.

“We understand that all in attendance at the private function have been encouraged to get tested.,” the RV spokesperson said.

Racing Victoria will also continue to monitor the risks the industry faces as the possibility of a participant testing positive to Covid-19 increases as the states restrictions ease.

“As we’ve done throughout, we’ll continue to review how we address the risks presented by COVID-19 and co-ordinate testing and other measures where required, while noting the changing landscape with high vaccination rates and Government changes to isolation requirements,” an RV statement read.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald tests negative to Covid after Verry Elleegant bash