Longines World’s Best Jockey James McDonald to ride in the Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge

John Velazquez, Hollie Doyle, Christophe Soumillon and Rachel King among crack IJC line up

Image:James McDonald to make debut appearance in Saudi Arabia

Credit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

15 January 2025 – Recently crowned Longines World’s Best Jockey James McDonald will line up in the 2025 International Jockeys’ Challenge (IJC) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on 21 February, the day before bidding for Saudi Cup glory aboard Romantic Warrior in the world’s richest race.

It will mark the first time the globetrotting New Zealander, who has ridden 106 Group 1 winners in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, UK and Japan, will compete in Saudi Arabia.

McDonald has forged a renowned partnership with record-breaking three-time Hong Kong Cup winner, Romantic Warrior and following the IJC he will attempt to guide the world’s highest-earning racehorse victory in the USD$20m Saudi Cup, on 22 February.

An array of global stars headline this year’s IJC, featuring seven male and seven female riders.

John Velazquez, who has well over 6,000 winners in the USA to his name, including six Classic victories, will make his IJC debut having ridden on Saudi Cup night last year.

Another global superstar making his IJC debut is Christophe Soumillon. The Belgian has taken a handful of rides at King Abdulaziz Racecourse over the years, with a single success coming back in 2004.

Top British rider, Hollie Doyle, who was a dual Group 1 winner in the UK and Ireland last year, will return to ride in her second IJC, having formerly competed in the 2021 renewal of the challenge.

She will be joined by four-time British Champion Jockey, Oisin Murphy, who finished third in last year’s Group 3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap aboard Giavellotto before going on to guide the Marco Botti charge to success in last month’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

Australian-based British rider, Rachel King is no stranger to the big stage. A multiple Group 1-winning jockey in Australia, she also recently secured a Group 3 victory in Japan.

Maryline Eon will return to defend her IJC title, having claimed the prize last year when finishing seven points clear of Saudi-based rider, Camilo Ospina. She will be joined by the winner of the inaugural IJC in 2020, German-based Sibylle Vogt, who will be competing in her third IJC.

The UAE-based Irish rider, Tadhg O’Shea, whose biggest success to date came on 2024 Dubai World Cup champion, Laurel River will be making his IJC debut.

McDonald’s New Zealand compatriot, Kelly Myers is another riding for the first time in the IJC and will be joined by 22-year-old Canada-based, Sofia Vives and Japan’s Manami Nagashina, also 22 years old. Both Vives and Nagashina come to The Kingdom on the back of outstanding seasons, where they both celebrated first Graded successes.

The IJC line up will be completed by two leading Saudi-based riders, who will be announced at a later date.

Riders will compete for points across the four IJC races, two on turf and two on dirt, with the jockey that amasses the most points emerging victorious.

In each race, 15 points will be awarded for first place, 10 for second, seven for third, four for fourth and the fifth placed rider will receive two points.

The first two IJC races will be run on the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, while legs three and four will take place on the turf track. Each race is worth a total of $400,000.

As well competing for a share of the $100,000 IJC prize fund ($30,000 to the winner), riders will also receive 15 per cent of prize money won.

2025 IJC line up:

Maryline Eon (FR) (2024 winner)

Christophe Soumillon (BEL/FR)

Rachel King (UK/AUS)

John Velasquez (USA)

Hollie Doyle (UK)

James MacDonald (NZ/AUS)

Manami Nagashina (JAP)

Oisin Murphy (UK/IRE)

Kelly Myers (NZ)

Tadhg O’Shea (UAE/IRE)

Sofia Vives (USA)

Sibylle Vogt (SWI/GER)

TBC

TBC

**ENDS**