THE world’s best jockey has been crowned – with a load of top Britain-based talent having to play second-fiddle to Kiwi James McDonald.
The Royal Ascot-winning rider – who is reported to have an ‘eye-watering’ salary – topped the Longines standings.
Kiwi jockey McDonald was crowned the world’s best by a distance in the Longines rankingsGetty
McDonald recently welcomed his first child with former jockey and model turned TV presenter Katelyn Mallyon
McDonald, who recently welcomed a child with former jockey and model turned TV presenter Katelyn Mallyon, won nine of the world’s top 100 races.
A load of them came in Australia, where he’s based, on the likes of Anamoe in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and Nature Strip in the Furphy TJ Smith Stakes.
Brit punters might remember Nature Strip from Royal Ascot, when he and McDonald cruised to victory in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Racing Down Under alone, McDonald, 30, has amassed earnings of just under £100million during his career.
Racenet said he was earning just under £1,700 a ride – which could easily amount to around £80,000 a week.
No one got close to McDonald in the rankings, which is based on jockeys’ performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 races.
Most read in Horse Racing
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 on Racing and get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Ladbrokes: Bet £5 Get £20 – CLAIM HERE
Coral: Bet £5 Get £20 – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply. Begambleaware.org
Betfair – Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: New customers only. First single & e/w bet only odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets only redeemable on horse racing. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply.
Ladbrokes: 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Coral: Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+ T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org
He finished the ranking period – which ran from December 1 last year to November 30 this season – some 46 points ahead of runner-up Ryan Moore.
Aidan O’Brien’s No 1 rider, who has been named world’s best three times, finished on 96 points, one spot above William Buick in third on 78 points.
Buick was crowned champion jockey in Britain for the first time owing to his incredibly successful partnership with Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.
Jim Crowley came fourth on 72 points while Melbourne Cup winner Mark Zahra was fifth.
World’s top ten jockeys in Longines standings
1 James McDonald
2 Ryan Moore
3 William Buick
4 Jim Crowley
5 Mark Zahra
6 Joel Rosario
7 Frankie Dettori
8 Flavien Prat
9 Jamie Lee Kah
10 Christophe Soumillon
Frankie Dettori, 51, had to settle for seventh with 52 points thanks to a tumultuous year in the saddle.
The world’s most famous jockey will travel to the States to ride over Christmas.
He briefly split with John Gosden after the trainer questioned the Italian’s level of commitment.
Australian sensation Jamie Lee Kah finished the best of the women jockeys in ninth.
While Christophe Soumillon, who infamously elbowed Rossa Ryan out of the saddle mid-race in October, came tenth.
Belgian star Soumillon is serving a two-month ban and faces the threat of police action over his moment of madness.
James Doyle, Rob Hornby and Derby-winner Richard Kingscote were among the other Brit jockeys to crack the top 40 worldwide.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chases their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org Read More