Prolific NSW jockey Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan retires due to shoulder injury

Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan admits it’s not the way he wanted his career to end, but an ongoing shoulder problem has signalled the end of his race riding career.

Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan returns to scale aboard Silent Impact after winning the Newcastle Gold Cup in 2000.

Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan has announced his retirement due to an ongoing shoulder problem.

The 54-year-old said “it wasn’t the way” he wanted his career to finish but “not everyone gets to finish on their terms”.

“The shoulder has had enough,” McLellan said. “It’s the same shoulder that forced me to retire last time.”

McLellan suffered the injury to his left shoulder in a 2011 race fall at Newcastle.

His last winner came aboard his second last ride aboard Zelestial in a Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at Coffs Harbour on June 29.

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McLellan admitted his comeback hadn’t played out how he would have liked but he remained grateful to have been able to return to the saddle and ride for another eight years.

“It didn’t go how I’d hoped but I still rode winners and I’ve very happy that I got to have a career as a jockey,” he said.

“I don’t want to dwell on things and now it’s time for the next chapter.”

Darryl McLellan salutes to the crowd after Henderson Bay won the Sydney Cup. Picture: Roy Haverkamp

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McLellan’s career started in 1989 and he rode more than 1700 winners including 28 black-type races (two Group 1s, seven Group 2s, five Group 3s and 14 Listed races).

“Obviously winning my first Group 1 aboard Magic Of Money in The Galaxy and the Sydney Cup on Henderson Bay were big thrills,” he said.

“But the win that meant the most to be was winning the Newcastle Cup on Silent Impact in 2000.

“It was during the Olympics and it was a stand-alone Saturday meeting.

“I never saw more people at Newcastle than I did that day.”

Darryl McLellan’s last metropolitan winner came aboard Sir Ravanelli at the 2024 The Coast race day which was moved to Newcastle. Photo: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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In 1992/93, McLellan was crowned Champion Sydney Apprentice.

Being a natural lightweight rider, McLellan experienced some great opportunities during his career aboard the best horses he ever sat on.

“Lonhro and Saintly without a doubt were the best,” he said.

“I won the Warwick Stakes on Lonhro at three and I got to win a race aboard Saintly at Newcastle early in his career.

I know what a good horse feels like.”

Lonhro and Darryl McLellan winning the Warwick Stakes in 2001.

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Among his other career highlights, McLellan recalled a horse he believes was a special talent, but his career ended before he got the chance.

“Court Command could have been something special too,” he said. “He won the Golden Rose, but he was never the same after his spring three-year-old campaign.

“I won the last-ever Peter Pan aboard Sportsman and a few mates were in the ownership so that was a great day, and I also went close in a Doncaster aboard Lease. It took Sunline to beat him.

Darryl McLellan gets everything out of Sportsman to win the Peter Pan Stakes in 2002.

“When you think about it I should have won three more Group 1s.

“The Peter Pan became the Golden Rose a year later and I won that race twice before it became a Group 1 and the Warwick Stakes is now the Winx Stakes and it’s a Group 1 too.

“Maybe I’ll just tell people I won five.

“I consider myself lucky that I get to retire with some great memories.”

Originally published as Prolific NSW jockey Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan retires due to shoulder injury