Leading Sydney-based hoop James McDonald has been chosen to represent Oceania in the 2014 World Super Jockey’s Series at Tokyo on November 29.
James McDonald will ride against some of the best jockeys in the world in the World Super Jockey’s Series in Japan. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The World Super Jockey’s Series features jockeys from right around the world who are randomly awarded mounts in four races and awarded points based on their performance in each race; with the leading jockey at the end of the two day series claiming the title.
The event was first held in 1987 and Australia has had previous success after Craig Williams took out the event in 2007 and Zac Purton was successful in 2012.
Purton will have the chance to win the event for the second time after he was selected to represent Hong Kong following his win in last season Hong Kong Jockey’s Premiership, while Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd has been selected to represent the United Kingdom.
Christophe Soumillon (France), Richard Hughes (United Kingdom), Luis Contreas (North America), Pat Smullen (Ireland) and Arnoldus De Vries (Germany) have also been invited to participate in the event, while a host of Japanese-based jockeys will also participate in the World Super Jockey’s Series.
The invitation to participate in the World Super Jockey’s Series caps off a stellar 12 month for McDonald in which he has won the Sydney Jockey’s Premiership and stamped himself as one of the leading jockeys in Australia.
McDonald did not have a particularly impressive 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, outside of his win on It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), and was criticised for failing to ride a winner during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but bounced back to record a string of impressive victories in 2014.
The New Zealand-born hooped received plenty of plaudits for his patient ride on Mossfun in the Golden Slipper (1200m) after he steered her to victory despite the filly missing the start and he finished the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with Group 1 wins on Rising Romance in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
McDonald added another Group 1 victory to his resume when he partnered Shooting To Win to success in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and he was almost able to steal the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Rising Romance with a sensational ride before he finished fifth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Willing Foe.
