Trainer Wayne Hawkes believes champion jockey James McDonald receives excessive praise from the media and avoids the level of scrutiny faced by other riders.
McDonald, who has ridden 128 Group 1 winners during his career, is widely regarded as one of the leading jockeys in world racing. However, Hawkes says the constant attention on the star hoop overlooks the achievements of other elite riders.
While Hawkes acknowledged McDonald’s outstanding record, he jokingly compared the jockey to a protected species.
“I’ve got nothing against J-Mac, he rode the winner for us in the last, Saturday week ago, on Gangsta Granny. He’s won a Golden Slipper for us (in 2014 on Mossfun),” Hawkes started on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“(But the media) goes on and on and on (about J-Mac)… Shut up all the time!
“There are other jockeys in the country besides James McDonald.”
Hawkes pointed to several other leading riders he believes deserve greater recognition for their performances.
“D Lane, B Melham on his best day, Craig Williams goes ok, doesn’t he? Tommy Berry’s won three Slippers,” Hawkes exclaimed.
The trainer emphasised that his comments were not intended as criticism of McDonald personally, but rather a reflection of how media coverage focuses heavily on the champion rider.
“I have nothing against J-Mac, (but) he’s like Zac Purton – he slaughters four, rides three (winners), and you walk on Monday morning and go, ‘Oh, J-Mac rode three (winners).’
“What was J-Mac doing in the first last Saturday (on Jambalaya)? Was it ridden upside down? Was it all ridden wrong? Not a word said, it never is.
“He’s like a koala; he’s a protected species!
“J-Mac’s going to go down in legendary status, and he deserves to, but all my point is, is that we don’t have to talk about him 24/7.”
McDonald will have the opportunity to equal or surpass the all-time Australian Group 1 riding record on Saturday. The current mark of 129 victories is held by champion jockey Damien Oliver.
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