Jockey Sets Record After Pep Talk From Rugby Legend

Before the biggest day of his career, champion jockey James McDonald received a text message from one of rugby's greatest minds that changed everything.

Sir Steve Hansen, who coached New Zealand's All Blacks to World Cup glory in 2015, sent McDonald words he'd used to fire up rugby legends. "Walk straight into it, grab it with both hands and walk straight into it," the message read.

McDonald needed that push. The 34-year-old was sitting at 129 Group One victories, tied with Australian legend Damien Oliver's Australasian record. One more win would make history.

"I thought that was quite special because it took me back a little bit," McDonald said. "Imagine him sitting down with the All Blacks, our greatest sport in New Zealand, and he's saying, 'Walk into it, embrace it.'"

The connection between the two champions runs deeper than motivation. Hansen owns racehorses, including Nature Strip, who won nine Group One races with McDonald in the saddle for six of them.

On Saturday at Rosehill, McDonald didn't just break the record. He shattered it, winning three consecutive Group One races in a single day aboard Aeliana, Autumn Boy, and Autumn Glow.

The three-time World's Best Jockey Award winner grew up dreaming of wearing the All Blacks jersey, but his smaller stature pointed him toward racing instead. That childhood pivot led him to the pinnacle of a different sport entirely.

Why This Inspires

McDonald's humility shines as bright as his talent. He credits trainer John O'Shea as a father figure who believed in him during rough patches, and his agent Mark Guest for steady guidance.

When asked about being called the greatest jockey ever, McDonald turned off social media to focus on his rides. His wife Katelyn shared the kind messages people sent, but his definition of success centers somewhere else entirely.

"Whether I'm the best or not doesn't worry me," he said. "As long as I'm in the conversation, I'm very proud of it, and if my girls in 10 years' time look up and say, 'gee Dad, you're pretty good', that would mean more to me than whether someone thinks I'm the best or not."

At 34, McDonald has plenty of racing ahead to build on his legacy, inspired by champions from two sports and grounded by the people who matter most.