Champion jockey James McDonald returns on final day of metro season to celebrate ninth Sydney jockeys’ premiership

Despite going winless on his Sydney return, James McDonald secured a seventh consecutive premiership to move closer to George Moore’s all-time record.

Jockey James McDonald is one Sydney premiership away from equalling George Moore. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney storms put a dampener on champion hoop James McDonald’s racing return on Wednesday – but nothing could stop the star rider celebrating a seventh consecutive Sydney jockeys’ title.

McDonald went without a win on his first day back riding in Sydney in more than a month at Warwick Farm but didn’t need one to officially move within touching distance of George Moore’s all-time Sydney premiership record.

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His latest title success, his 9th in total, has been a fait accompli for several months.

McDonald finished the 2024/25 campaign with 83 city winners to sit comfortably clear of Jason Collett (74 winners) and Zac Lloyd (67 winners).

Next season McDonald is the hot favourite to add a 10th premiership and equal Moore’s long held record in Sydney racing.

He can also equal Moore’s amazing feat of eight straight Sydney titles, which was achieved on a historic run from 1961-62 to 1968-69.

McDonald’s latest haul is the least victories he’s had in a premiership-winning season since winning his first in 2013-14 with 72 winners.

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But the coveted crown has come with a sensational winning strike rate in town of just over 25 per cent while juggling international commitments in Hong Kong and the Middle East as well as several interstate raids.

His partnership with soon-to-be horse of the year Via Sistina helped propel him to a career best season of 21 Group 1 victories with a personal record of more than $59m in prizemoney earned for connections.

Via Sistina was McDonald’s headline horse in Australia. Picture: Getty Images

McDonald can kick the new season off on a high note with seven rides at Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens meeting.

It will also see the metropolitan return of leading apprentice Braith Nock, who added his name to one of Sydney racing’s most coveted honour rolls.

Nock has spent the final two weeks of the campaign on the sidelines through suspension but did more than enough to celebrate his maiden apprentices’ title with 40 winners for the campaign.

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Chris Waller (142 winners) continued his remarkable reign at the top of the tree of the Sydney training ranks which has now stretched for 15 seasons.

Premiership winners will be celebrated at Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens card, which coincides with the Australian Turf Club’s Jockey Celebration Day.

Australian Turf Club head of racing and wagering Nevesh Ramdhani paid tribute to the premiership winners.

“Sydney has world-class jockeys and trainers who help to make our racing the equal of any centre 52 weeks a year,’’ Ramdhani said.

“It is fitting we celebrate the premiership winners whilst hosting a large number of retired jockeys who have created their own history and memories on Sydney tracks.”

More rain throughout the remainder of the week has the industry of weather watch heading into the weekend.