1 Oct 2026 · @Will Macdonald

Australian racing is blessed with a remarkable group of jockeys right now, and it's worth saying so. Plenty of our Industry Views content points out the elephant in the room and how Australian racing could do better, but it's just as important to celebrate what's going right. The world would envy our leading riders, a group that combines Group 1 pedigree, international success and genuine character.

That success comes at a cost few other athletes face. Racing is one of the only sports in the world where an ambulance follows the athletes around the field. Our jockeys guide half a tonne of horse at close to 60 kilometres an hour, often in tight fields where a split second can decide the difference between a winning run and a serious fall. The risk doesn't end on race day, either. 

The physical toll is significant. Broken bones, long rehabilitation and the constant demands of managing weight are part of the job for almost every rider at this level. Many of the jockeys below have come back from serious injuries, and that resilience deserves as much recognition as their wins.

Early morning trackwork at Randwick Photo Credit: Phil Hillyard

Each brings a real point of difference, both in the saddle and for the sport as a whole. Here are ten who stand out to me in 2026.

James McDonald: The ultimate benchmark

The legend that is James McDonald keeps rewriting the record books. At 34, 'J-Mac' has won an astonishing 142 Group 1s across six countries. Earlier this year, he became the most successful Group 1 jockey in Australasian racing history when he won the Rosehill Guineas aboard Autumn Boy, passing the 129 set by the great Damien Oliver.

The New Zealand-born rider has collected nearly every major prize on offer: the Melbourne Cup on Verry Elleegant in 2021, Cox Plates on Anamoe, Romantic Warrior and Via Sistina, The Everest on Nature Strip, and Royal Ascot glory with the same horse in the King's Stand. 

He's a gifted sportsman and horseman with an incredible sense of timing, plus the tenacity and strength to make the right move at the right moment and get the best out of his horses on the big days. Recently rated the best jockey in the world, he's in the rare position of being able to pick and choose his rides.

His riding speaks for itself, but his presentation to the media is just as valuable. He's considerate, articulate and humble: exactly what you want from the face of our sport.

Craig Williams: The relentless achiever

At 49 years young, 'Willow' is the model of consistency, dedication and passion for the sport. His CV includes the 2019 Melbourne Cup on Vow And Declare, along with 90 Group 1 wins across Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, the UAE and Europe.

He's also a great human being who has given a lot of his own time to mentoring and teaching the next crop of young jockeys, as well as all the charity work, including fundraising for the Ukraine, his wife's homeland.

No one outworks Craig. Every winner means as much to him as it does to the owners. He's confident, speaks his mind and gives honest feedback on every horse he rides, which is exactly what owners and trainers need when mapping out a campaign. He's also never afraid to call things out.

Blake Shinn: The gentleman horseman

A gifted apprentice who became a phenomenal jockey, Blake announced himself on the biggest stage by winning the 2008 Melbourne Cup on Viewed. Despite his setbacks with injury, his tenacity and commitment to the sport are exemplary. He's also one of the few jockeys with a broad understanding of the bloodstock industry.

He turns up at the sales and looks at yearlings. He understands breeding and the auction system, and he takes a global view of the sport, not just the racing. He also has a genuine love of the horse and an uncanny ability to assess a horse's potential, even after two minutes in the saddle. For those of us in bloodstock, that kind of feedback is gold.

Jamie Melham: The female trailblazer

Now riding as Jamie Melham (formerly Kah), Jamie is a genuine trailblazer and an inspiration for young women wanting to succeed as jockeys. She rose out of a small Adelaide stable all the way to Melbourne Cup glory aboard Half Yours in 2025, becoming only the second woman to win the race after Michelle Payne in 2015. That is only one of her 20 Group 1 wins, and she's not yet 32!

Her feel, balance, soft hands and timing more than match the strength and power of her male rivals. Along the way, she set a record for Melbourne metropolitan winners in a season. She hasn't been without controversy, and the COVID-19 lockdown incident has become synonymous with her. She copped an unequal share of public ridicule for it, but she rose above it. They breed them tough in Mount Pleasant.

Sovereignty winning the Kentucky Derby  Photo Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Rachel King: The international Group 1 lady

Rachel was often overlooked early in her career, but she has been central to the success of Bjorn Baker's stable. The English-born rider has won multiple Group 1s and proven herself overseas, most recently in Japan, where she guided Costa Nova to victory in the Grade 1 February Stakes in Tokyo. In doing so she became the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 flat race in Japan, an achievement she should carry proudly throughout her career. It's a reminder of how far Australian-based riders now travel, and win. No doubt there are plenty more top-level wins to come.

Nash Rawiller: An iron fist in a velvet glove

Nash has been a top rider for the best part of 20 years, including several successful seasons riding in Hong Kong, one of the toughest jockey colonies in the world. Like many jockeys, he has made big sacrifices to keep his weight down. He's renowned for his distinctive hands-and-heels style, which has lifted many horses to narrow wins in big races.

He often hasn't had the pick of the rides, and that has made him a true tactician. The best example in my memory is taking 40-1 shot Think It Over to the rail in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes to beat the likes of Zaaki, Verry Elleegant and Anamoe. Look it up on YouTube: it's a hell of a watch. If you've got Nash, you've always got a fighting chance.

Zac Lloyd: The next big thing?

It's hard not to compare Zac with some of the champions above. He's competitive, cheeky and brash, and comes from a family of top jockeys. He's a dual apprentice premiership winner and has been a retained rider for Godolphin. He took out the coveted Golden Slipper this year on Guest House and then carried that form to Royal Ascot, winning the Britannia Stakes. Not bad for 23 years young! The world is truly his oyster, and I can’t wait to see him take up the mantle; how high could he reach?

Jabez Johnstone: The Tasmanian battler

When we sat down with John Messara this year for an episode of our Learning Centre, the Arrowfield Stud founder and former Racing NSW chairman said that for racing to flourish in this country, every jurisdiction must be strong, because you never know where the next great trainer, horse or jockey will come from. That really resonated with me when Jabez Johnstone joined Ciaron Maher's stable a couple of months ago, having ridden over 100 winners in Tasmania. I'll admit I'd never heard of him, but I'm very impressed by what I've seen. He's quiet and humble, has a soft riding style, and seems to be taking every opportunity in his stride. Let's hope he's one to take it to Zac in the years to come.

William Pike: Best in the West

This list simply wouldn't be complete without the great Willy Pike. A multiple Western Australian premiership winner, he has spent most of his career ruling the West. But he has also made his mark on the east coast whenever he has travelled: Ole Kirk in the Caulfield Guineas, Masked Crusader in the William Reid, Arcadia Queen in the Caulfield Stakes, Celebrity Queen in the Oakleigh Plate and, of course, Cosmic Crusader in the PB Lawrence this year. He has been a great asset to Western Australian racing, and as they say over there, it's Pikey in the last.

Damian Lane: Sharp as a Tack

Another rider who hails from the West, Damian Lane has been consistently slept on and left out of these conversations. He has 37 Group 1s across Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. That he can boast a record like that and still fly under the radar says a lot about how reserved and humble he is.

His Japanese connection is one of the great stories of modern Australian racing. In 2019 he partnered the Japanese mare Lys Gracieux to wins in the Takarazuka Kinen and Arima Kinen, and brought her to Moonee Valley to win the Cox Plate. That same spring he won the Caulfield Cup on Mer De Glace. Few Australian jockeys have been trusted so completely by Japanese connections.

Over the past couple of years, it has been great to see him earn more recognition through horses like Treasure the Moment and Marhoona. What has always struck me about Damian is that he's sharp, honest and clear, both in his feedback to connections and in front of the media. 

The bottom line

The depth here is extraordinary, and I haven't even mentioned Mark Zahra, Luke Nolen, Kerrin McEvoy, Tim Clark, Tommy Berry or Ethan Brown, let alone the host of consistent country jockeys and up-and-coming apprentices. The list runs from a record-breaking benchmark to a Tasmanian newcomer, and it shows that Australian racing's talent pipeline is as strong as it has ever been. For owners, that matters: the standard at the top level means your horse is in good hands on race day.

It's easy to take talent like this for granted. These riders put their bodies on the line every day, work relentless hours and carry the hopes of owners, trainers and punters every time they leave the barrier. They are also wonderful ambassadors for Australian racing, both at home and abroad.

So to our jockeys: thank you. We are lucky to have you.

Will Macdonald is the Client Relations & Marketing Manager for Astute Bloodstock, Randwick.