Champion jockey James McDonald became the prolific Group 1 winner Saturday in Australian horse racing history, surpassing Damien Oliver when he steered Autumn Boy to victory in the Rosehill Guineas.<\/p>\n
Heading into the day at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, McDonald needed two more wins to overtake Oliver’s 129 triumphs in the highest level of thoroughbred racing.<\/p>\n
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He delivered by first steering Aeliana over the line first in the Ranvet Stakes before guiding the Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy to victory in the Rosehill Guineas an hour later.<\/p>\n
Both races were over 2,000m.<\/p>\n
“There’s no two ways about it, that I do ride the best horses and most favourites each race and I’m blessed to have that opportunity,” said the New Zealand-born McDonald, the world’s top-ranked jockey.<\/p>\n
“To get to a mark like this, it’s obviously special. Especially with how I look up to Damien Oliver.<\/p>\n
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“When I was growing up as a 10-year-old kid, he was riding Melbourne Cup winners.”<\/p>\n
Still just 34 years old, the two-time World Jockey of the Year added: “I’ll get to 200, you watch.”<\/p>\n
McDonald’s Group 1 wins have come primarily in Australia, but also New Zealand and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Among his notable victories was the 2021 Melbourne Cup, multiple Cox Plates and Hong Kong Cups and the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.<\/p>\n
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