James McDonald Honoured for Third Time as the Longines World’s Best Jockey
For the second consecutive year and third time overall, James McDonald has claimed the Longines World’s Best Jockey title. The New Zealand-born, Australia-based jockey was recognised for his accomplishments during the Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner on December 12, 2025.
After dominating the competition throughout the year, James McDonald was honoured on Friday with the 2025 Longines World’s Best Jockey Award. He first took the title in 2022 and was also celebrated last year.
McDonald accumulated 184 points throughout the 2025 competition. He won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group or Grade 1 races, with his qualifying victories coming in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (Romantic Warrior), Longines Hong Kong Mile (Voyage Bubble), Stewards' Cup (Voyage Bubble), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Voyage Bubble), TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes (Via Sistina), Ranvet Stakes (Via Sistina), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Via Sistina), Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 (Sunshine in Paris), Eva Air Kingsford‐Smith Cup (Joliestar), Winx Stakes (Via Sistina), Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Via Sistina), and TAB Champions Stakes (Via Sistina).
“It was remarkable, unthinkable, in terms of the year we had,” said McDonald. “Voyage Bubble, Via (Sistina), and Romantic (Warrior) have accumulated all these points, and it’s basically a reflection on them. The three horses who have been hugely a part of this have been special to ride. It’s obviously an honour for sure, but I am more proud of the three that I am riding. They have been so special to us.”
McDonald was honoured as the 2025 Longines World’s Best Jockey during the Gala Dinner, which held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. In recognition, he was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece from Longines CEO Patrick Aoun and the iconic crystal vase by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
The awarding of the Longines World’s Best Jockey title is based upon 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 December 1st of the previous year until November 30th of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.
The Longines World’s Best Jockey Award was established in 2014 by Swiss watch brand Longines and the IFHA to recognise a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. It marked the first time a rider was honoured in such a way. Previous winners include Hugh Bowman, Frankie Dettori, and Ryan Moore. The full and final standings for the 2025 Longines World’s Best Jockey competition can be found at www.ifhaonline.org.
