James McDonald has won the Longines World’s Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The New Zealand-born, Australia-based jockey also won the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award in 2022.
On his way to claiming the 2025 title, McDonald 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).
McDonald dominated this year’s award, holding a sizeable lead throughout much of the competition. The scoring process rewards jockeys for finishing in the top three, giving McDonald a total of 184 points on the year. Mickael Barzalona was second with 132 points, while William Buick was third with 114 points.
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 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.
A ceremony will be held during the gala dinner of the Longines Hong Kong International Races on 12 December 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre to honour McDonald. The full and final standings for the 2025 Longines World’s Best Jockey competition can be found at www.ifhaonline.org.
The Longines World’s Best Jockey Award was established 12 years ago by Swiss watch brand Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) as a way to quantitatively recognise a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. Ryan Moore was the inaugural recipient of the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award, which was established in 2014, and his other wins came in 2016, 2021, and 2023. Frankie Dettori has also won the award four times, with his victories coming in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Hugh Bowman won the award in 2017.
About Longines
Based in Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaking company Longines wields expertise steeped in tradition, elegance and performance. With generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships, and as partner of international sports federations, Longines has built strong and long-lasting relationships in the world of sport over the years. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd., the world’s leading watch manufacturer. The Longines brand, with its winged hourglass emblem, is established in over 150 countries.
Longines International Communications: publicrelations@longines.com
All press material is available on mediacenter.longines.com.
About IFHA
The IFHA is a federation of more than 60 racing authorities from different countries and regions in the world. It is the global leader for the international sport of Thoroughbred racing, seeking to promote all facets of the worldwide sport; protect the welfare of the equine and human athlete; and protect and grow its global social and economic significance for current and future generations.
Major areas of the IFHA’s activities include:
- Making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering
- Policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders
- International race planning and grading (“black type”)
- World rankings
- The fight against equine prohibited substances and practices
- Harmonisation of racing rules
- Certification of IFHA reference laboratories
- Fostering commercial development of the racing industry globally
The IFHA is a foundation member with Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) of the International Horse Sports Confederation and is affiliated to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
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