FEATURE
James McDonald Career: 2009–present
Michelle Payne Career: 1999–2024
Jamie Melham Career: 2012–present
In March 2026, became the first jockey in Australian history to ride 130 Group 1 winners, surpassing Oliver’s record with a three-Group-1 treble at Rosehill. At 32, the youngest jockey ever to reach 100 Group 1 wins – a milestone only five riders in Australian history have achieved. Named Longines World Jockey of the Year in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
On 3 November 2015, became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, guiding 100-1 outsider Prince Of Penzance to one of the great upsets in the race’s history. Only the fourth woman ever to ride in the event. Retired with more than 700 career wins and five Group 1 victories.
In 2020/21, became the first jockey – male or female – to ride 100 winners in a single Melbourne Metropolitan season, finishing with 105. In spring 2025, aboard Half Yours, became the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup, then the second female jockey to win the Lexus Melbourne Cup — the first woman to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.
Glen Boss Career: 1990–2021
Hugh Bowman Career: 1997–present
Zac Purton Career: 2000–present
The only jockey in history to win three consecutive Melbourne Cups – all aboard the mighty Makybe Diva in 2003, 2004 and 2005 – and the only jockey to win three Cups on the same horse. Accumulated 90 Group 1 wins across a career that also included four Cox Plates and two Golden Slippers.
The first jockey to win four consecutive Cox Plates, all with champion mare Winx from 2015 to 2018 – a record within a record. Partnered Winx to 25 of her world- record 25 Group 1 wins. In 2017, became the first Australian jockey to win the IFHA Longines World’s Best Jockey award, and rode his 100th Group 1 winner in 2022.
In January 2025, he became the jockey who has won the most races in Hong Kong racing history, riding his 1,814th winner to surpass Douglas Whyte’s long-standing record. By June 2026 had reached 2,000 Hong Kong winners, a first in the sport's history. Eight-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey, holder of the single-season record with 179 wins in 2022/23, and the only jockey to have won all 12 Group 1 races.
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