Leading jockey James McDonald had the same dream many Kiwis have as a kid, to be an All Black, and while his diminutive size quickly put paid to that idea, on Saturday he got to experience something very similar.
Like the All Blacks, McDonald has been at the pinnacle of his sport, winning the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award on three occasions, coincidentally the same number of World Cups won by his nation’s rugby team.
Sir Steve Hansen was part of the coaching staff in two of those victories – assistant to Sir Graham Henry in 2011 and head coach in 2015.
Horse racing is Hansen’s other big love and he has experienced topflight success in that sport as an owner, particularly with Nature Strip, who won nine Group One races, six of which were achieved with McDonald in the saddle.
Accustomed to big occasions, the rugby maestro was aware of the importance of Saturday for McDonald, who was just one victory shy of Damien Oliver’s Australasian Group One record of 129 wins, and like revving his rugby players up for a test match, he sent a message of sage advice to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame rider.
“I got the text through and thought, that’s nice of him (Hansen) to text me. But I took something away,” McDonald said.
“He said, ‘Walk straight into it, grab it with both hands and walk straight into it.’
“I was thinking to myself, imagine him sitting down with the All Blacks, a 15 squad of men, our greatest sport in New Zealand, and he’s saying, ‘Walk into it, embrace it’.
“I thought that was quite special because it took me back a little bit.”
While not short on inspiration, those words stuck with McDonald and the Sydney-based hoop went out to Rosehill and duly equalled Oliver’s record when riding New Zealand-bred mare Aeliana to victory in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) before surpassing it aboard Autumn Boy in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), and then extended his lead in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) aboard Autumn Glow, all for expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller.
“To get to a mark like this, it’s obviously special,” McDonald said. “Especially with how I look up to Damien Oliver.
“When I was growing up as a 10-year-old kid, he was riding Melbourne Cup winners. One that comes to mind is Media Puzzle when he went through so much adversity and still had the vivacity to come out on top. He’s a phenomenal rider.
“I’m just blessed with a great family and great support crew with Mark Guest (agent) and good family friends.
“John O’Shea (trainer), who is like a father figure to me, he got me over and he gave me so many chances even when I wasn’t riding well. Many trainers throughout Australia and New Zealand as well.”
With the Australasian Group One record now firmly in hand, the 34-year-old is looking to build on his legacy, and while many are plauding him as the greatest jockey to grace the track, he said his children’s opinion will be the mark of his success.
“I’m just humbled by the support. To be honest, I flicked social media off this week and just focused on my rides,” he said.
“But Katelyn (wife) would mention, ‘someone said kind words about you’. That means so much. Whether I deserve it, it’s up to people’s opinion who’s the greatest jockey to ever grace the turf, it doesn’t worry me.
“As long as I’m in the conversation, I’m very proud of it, and if my girls in 10 years’ time look up and say, ‘gee Dad, you’re pretty good’, that would mean more to me than whether someone thinks I’m the best or not.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
