James McDonald chalked his 21st group 1 winner when It's A Dundeel proved too strong in Saturday's $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000 metres) at Randwick, but it was also a confirmation of his coming of age as a jockey.
The 22-year-old says he struggled in his first year after coming to Australia as a record-breaking whiz-kid from New Zealand. But he is now in the top echelon of jockeys in Australasia.
The Championships may be looked on as a changing of the guard in the jockey ranks, as McDonald and Tom Berry shared the inaugural Nathan Berry Medal for leading jockey in the 10-race series, after they rode two group 1 winners apiece on Saturday.
"To win a medal like Nathan's is a privilege given the jockeys in the room," McDonald said. "It is a tough arena to come into and you have to earn your respect.
"It shows I had a good day, but I'm still working to match the blokes that have been here for a long time. To share it with Tommy is an honour because he is a champion bloke and champion rider."
The established order that had names such as Nash Rawiller, Damien Oliver, Jim Cassidy, Hugh Bowman, Glen Boss and Michael Rodd at its top is being challenged by McDonald and Berry, twentysomethings with talent and desire.
It is something McDonald didn't think was possible after a tough introduction to group 1 riding in Australia.
"That first spring I was here I seemed to be getting suspended all the time," he said. "I had about two months on the sidelines. It wasn't always clear sailing.
"I have learnt from that and it is what makes this even better now because it tough in Sydney against these blokes every week and you earn your success."
It's A Dundeel is clearly a favourite for McDonald after supplying nearly a third of his group 1 successes; he has been part of the four-year-old's six top-level wins. It has never got any better than Saturday. He won the Australian Oaks on Rising Romance before It's A Dundeel added to his group 1 tally.
"I was confident about their chances and going to the track with my brother I told him it would be a good day," McDonald said. "Everything went right on the filly and she was too good. But Dundeel has never felt that good before. He was amazing."
It gave McDonald the two richest races of the autumn carnival after he took out the Golden Slipper on Mossfun. He will chase the riches in Brisbane in the next couple of months but winning the Sydney premiership is a real possibility as he sits just four wins behind Nash Rawiller.
"To run down Nash is going to be very tough because he is so consistent and just rides winner after winner," McDonald said. "But to be in that situation in only my second full season is exciting."
McDonald will finish the carnival by riding Bennetta in the All Aged Stakes but has not been booked for the Champagne Stakes as yet.
