JMac Sets New Melbourne Cup Carnival Record

Champion jockey James McDonald left an indelible mark at Flemington, riding four of the last five winners to shatter his own Melbourne Cup carnival record, reports racenet.com.au. Building on his 10-win streak from 2021, McDonald reached a new high with 11 victories this year, capped off on Saturday with triumphs aboard Hinged (Worthy Cause), Sunshine In Paris (Invader), Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock), and Pisanello (Ribchester). Among McDonald's achievements were four prestigious Group 1 wins in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Empire Rose Stakes, Champions Sprint, and Champions Stakes. Reflecting on his record-breaking performance, an elated McDonald remarked, "It means a lot. It should have been probably 15; [I] butchered four, I got 11 right." The carnival's atmosphere left McDonald exhilarated, as he described the crowd's energy and the week's unique appeal: "It's a privilege, it's an honour to ride here, especially this week. The colour, the vibe, everything about it... and these four days are very, very special." He was especially moved by witnessing a superstar performance from Via Sistina, adding, "I'm still coming to terms with what happened there, but it was a very special week." For the fourth consecutive year, McDonald claimed the Ron Hutchinson Award as the carnival's leading jockey, with Damian Lane and Ben Melham following in the rankings. Melham wrapped up with four wins, achieving a Saturday double. On the training front, Chris Waller led with six wins, including three Group 1s. However, Ciaron Maher clinched his first JB Cummings Award as the top Melbourne Cup Carnival trainer, securing five wins and 10 placings.

Hinged (green silks) was one of McDonald's Group winners (pic: Mark Gatt)