After achieving back-to-back victories as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, James McDonald is hoping to cap off an extraordinary season by creating more history at Sha Tin tomorrow (Sunday, 14 December) on Romantic Warrior.
James McDonald is presented with the 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award.
McDonald, who also won the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award in 2022, will ride Romantic Warrior in search of a historic fourth consecutive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victory.
McDonald, 33, was presented with a crystal vase trophy on Friday night (12 December) by Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
McDonald, who also received a special LONGINES watch from Mr Patrick Aoun, President and Chief Executive Officer of LONGINES, said he was great to again win such a prestigious award.
“The first was time in the clouds sort of job and I suppose if anyone gets a good horse, they can win the award once but to do it three times is pretty cool and Ryan (Moore) Frankie (Dettori) have won it four times and we are talking about the greatest jockeys on earth,” McDonald said.
McDonald modestly said he would not put himself in that category and believes his success was propelled by being lucky enough to ride three exceptional horses – Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble and Via Sistina – in the one year.
“Romantic (Warrior) is the best, Via (Sistina) is phenomenal for what she has achieved and so is Voyage Bubble,” he said.
McDonald won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group 1 or Grade 1 races. Three of those were on Voyage Bubble, one on Romantic Warrior, who was sidelined for several months following fetlock surgery, six on Via Sistina and also one each on Joliestar and Sunshine In Paris.
He topped the rankings with 184 points, from Mickael Barzalona (132), William Buick (114) and Ryan Moore (102).
The LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title is based on performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year where jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for second, and 4 points for third.
James McDonald and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges on stage at the Gala Dinner.
McDonald said it had been a wonderful year but it was only through the deeds of the champion race horses he ridden throughout the year that allowed him win the award.
“And I mean they are incredible race horses, a (Hong Kong) Triple Crown winner (Voyage Bubble), a Hong Kong champion (Romantic Warrior) and an Australian champion as well (Via Sistina),” McDonald said.
“To get them all in one year doesn’t happen often at all and to be partnering them is just an incredible feeling and I feel very humbled to be riding them.”
McDonald, who is on short-term contract in Hong Kong and will return to Sydney just before Christmas, said the standout of all the performances was Voyage Bubble’s Triple Crown victory in HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).
A win on Romantic Warrior tomorrow could top what he has achieved this year, and if everything pans out all right, McDonald would love to return for another crack at the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in 2026 and attempt to avenge the narrow loss to Forever Young.
DH collaborates with trade to combat tuberculosis
The Department of Health (DH) today (March 14) urged members of the public to remain vigilant against tuberculosis (TB) and adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, exercising, getting adequate rest, and maintaining good personal hygiene. These will help prevent TB infection and support the World TB Day, which has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 24.
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today served as the officiating guest at the launch ceremony cum awards presentation for the World TB Day 2026, an event organised by the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association and co-organised by the DH. In his speech, he said, "TB is an important infectious disease globally and in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, notified cases have ranged from 3 000 to 4 500 annually. Although there is a downward trend, the incidence rate is more than 10 times higher than that of other advanced economies. Approximate one out of 10 people infected with tubercle bacilli develop TB disease weeks or even decades later. Those with weaker immune systems are at greater risk. Over a lifetime, one out of every 20 persons in Hong Kong will develop TB. Everyone is at risk of being affected by TB. Hence, we must not take it lightly under any circumstances. The notification rate of TB in Hong Kong has declined from approximately 150 cases per 100 000 members of the population in the early 1980s to about 40 cases per 100 000 members of the population today, a reduction of over 70 per cent. Hong Kong is densely populated with high population mobility and an ageing population. Despite these challenges, Hong Kong's effective control of tuberculosis can be attributed to the close collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals in achieving 'early identification and early treatment', as well as their full co-operation with the directly observed treatment service proactively provided by the DH's chest clinics."
He also pointed out that smoking is a major risk factor for TB infection and recurrence. He urged the public to continue supporting the government's tobacco control measures. In addition to extending the statutory no-smoking areas, Hong Kong will implement a comprehensive ban on the possession of specified alternative smoking products (including e-liquids/capsules/heat sticks) in public places, introduce the duty stamp system, ban flavoured conventional smoking products, and introduce plain packaging requirements for conventional smoking products.
"The DH's Tuberculosis and Chest Service is responsible for monitoring and controlling TB, promoting universal Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunisation for newborns and raising public awareness about TB. The DH's chest clinics provide free TB screening and treatment to the public. The TB Laboratory under the Centre for Health Protection has been designated as the WHO's Supranational TB Reference Laboratory and provides advanced support for Mycobacterium tuberculosis testing, including rapid molecular testing and whole-genome sequencing for drug susceptibility testing," Dr Lam added.
To raise public awareness, the DH disseminates TB-related information on the internet and social media platforms. It also collaborates with the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association and the Hospital Authority to organise a series of health education talks. These initiatives remind the public of the importance of remaining vigilant, seeking timely diagnosis and treatment for TB, and introducing preventive measures, all of which are aimed at achieving the goal of eliminating TB.
Early identification of TB cases and the prompt initiation of anti-TB treatment remain the mainstay of TB control. The DH's chest clinics provide free outpatient consultations and treatment for TB patients. TB treatment involves a prescription of multiple medications which normally lasts for six months. TB patients must strictly comply with the treatment regimen to minimise the emergence of drug-resistant TB.
TB is an airborne disease. When a TB patient coughs or sneezes, small droplets containing the tubercle bacilli are generated and spread in the air. If others inhale these small airborne droplets, they may become infected. However, prolonged exposure is usually the prerequisite for the disease to be effectively transmitted. Members of the public should be vigilant against TB and adopt a healthy lifestyle involving a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, exercising and getting adequate rest in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. If they develop symptoms, such as persistent cough, blood in sputum, weight loss, fever and night sweating, they should seek prompt medical advice. If they are diagnosed as having TB disease, patients should strengthen their respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, and receive TB treatment under the doctor's advice.
For more TB-related information, services and figures, the public may also visit the website of the DH's Tuberculosis and Chest Service (www.info.gov.hk/tb_chest).
DH collaborates with trade to combat tuberculosis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH collaborates with trade to combat tuberculosis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
