James McDonald closed a highly successful short-term stint in Hong Kong with a quartet at Sha Tin on Sunday, crowning his stay with two Group 1 victories while amassing more than HK$72 million for connections during the 11-meeting cameo.
Acclaimed as the 2024 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, McDonald slotted four winners, a second and a third from nine rides at Sha Tin to finish his visit with 19 wins and 21 minor placings from 89 rides for overall prizemoney earnings of HK$72,033,605 – a figure bettered this season only by Zac Purton (HK$81.9 million).
James McDonald drives Johannes Brahms to his first first Hong Kong winner (Pic – HKJC)
McDonald, who dominated at the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races with victories on Romantic Warrior in the HK$40 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and Voyage Bubble in the HK$36 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, scored on Super Legends, Lady’s Choice, Divano and Johannes Brahms today.
The New Zealander is scheduled to return to Hong Kong to partner Voyage Bubble in the HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup on 19 January after serving a seven-meeting suspension for careless riding following an incident at Sha Tin on 15 December.
“I’ve absolutely loved every minute of it except for last Sunday (15 December), it threw a bit of a downer on the whole trip but we loved it – it’s been brilliant,” said McDonald, who sits in fourth place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship behind Purton (51 wins), Hugh Bowman (26) and Vincent Ho (21).
“Those horses (Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble) have been the highlights but I really enjoyed every meeting – most meetings, I got winners so it was good.”
McDonald opened his account onj Sunday aboard Danny Shum’s Super Legends in the first section of the Class 4 Hibiscus Handicap before adding the Class 3 Pok Oi Cup Handicap on Lady’s Choice for Michael Chang, the first section of the Class 3 Tulip Handicap on Francis Lui’s Divano and Johannes Brahms for Pierre Ng in the Class 3 Spruce Handicap.
2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby hopeful Johannes Brahms, who was formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, earned a PP Bonus of HK$1,5 million for his first Hong Kong win.
Jerry Chau continued a form resurgence with a treble, scoring on Dennis Yip-trained veteran Fire Ball in the Class 5 Amaryllis Handica, Another World for Benno Yung in the Class 4 Holly Handicap and Ricky Yiu’s Sky Joy in the second section of the Class 4 Hibiscus Handicap.
Chau ended a dry spell with victory on Packing Bole for Danny Shum on 18 December, having endured a winless streak stretching back to October.
“The last two months have, for me, been a bit down and it’s been hard to get winners,” Chau said. “It seems now like the luck has changed and everything is going well now with two winners. It’s good.
“But I just kept working hard, going to Sha Tin and Conghua to ride track work to get the results.
“(I was) very luck today with Sky Joy. We had a very difficult draw with barrier 14 but luckily the horse has good gate speed and we had some luck to get a little bit of cover.”
Yiu was delighted with Chau’s display on Sky Joy, who overcame barrier 14 to score strongly.
“He’s a nice horse and he responded really well under the stick. It was one, two and boom off he goes. It was his second start and from a wide barrier on the ‘A+3’ course, statistics told us he couldn’t win,” Yiu said.
“But with Jerry Chau on him, like I said to the owners, he’ll at least be in the first three because we’ve got a jockey who is flying today. He (Chau) is an improving young chap, I like him a lot. Before he went overseas, he was with me and I spent a lot of time with him for 12 months or so.”
Antoine Hamelin celebrates 100 up (Pic – HKJC)
Antoine Hamelin slotted his 100th Hong Kong victory when John Size’s Raging Blizzard won the Class 2 Poinsettia Handicap, snaring his first win since last season.
“It’s great, I’ve been waiting a while for this one,” the Frenchman said. “But now, I’m very happy. The horse was very well prepared, as usual, by Mr Size. I thanked him again for the support he has given me over these four years and I hope for more in the coming years.
“It’s been a while waiting for this one. I knew I was stuck on 99, so it’s even longer when you’re waiting for your 100th. But I’m very happy and grateful. It’s a good Christmas gift and the new year is coming soon. I can’t wait and I hope more winners come.”
Ka Ying Attack claimed the Class 4 Erica Handicap, narrowly clinching the contest for three-year-olds for David Hall and Matthew Poon before Shum slotted a double with Joyful Prosperity, who made it three wins in a row with victory in the Class 4 Ivy Handicap under Bowman.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Thursday 26 December.
