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James McDonald proudly shows off the 2024 Nathan Berry Medal. Image by Bradley Photographers

By Mark Brassel

James McDonald has taken out the 2024 Nathan Berry Medal in a heart-stopping finish to the final race of the 12 The Star Championships races over the two days.

McDonald lifted Zougotcha to a nose victory in the Group 1-Queen of the Turf Stakes to seal the Medal with 10 points. Blake Shinn was on runner-up Atishu but had the photo finish gone the other way, it would have been a three-way dead-heat with Damian Lane whereby the trio would each have finished with nine points.

In the event of a tie the winners are counted, meaning McDonald and Lane would have shared the spoils with two Championships winners. It is McDonald’s fourth Nathan Berry Medal although he has tied twice previously with Joao Moriera (2023) and Tommy Berry (2014).

The two days of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick marked the 11th running of the prestigious Nathan Berry Medal that was introduced by Racing NSW in 2014.

2024 NATHAN BERRY MEDAL

Australia’s best jockeys – along with riders from New Zealand and Hong Kong – compete over the two days of The Star Championships for the prized Medal (12 Championships races)

The Medal is named in honour of the former top jockey who passed away in April 2014 and is awarded to the most successful jockey over the 12 races of The Championships.

The point score is determined on a 3-2-1 basis* across 10 Group races as well as the Finals of the Country & Provincial Championships, with the winner announced at the completion of Day 2 of The Championships (Saturday 13 April).

*In the event of a tie, the winner is he/she who has ridden the most winners. If a similar number the Medal is declared a tie.

HONOUR ROLL
2024 - JAMES McDONALD
2023 - JAMES McDONALD/JOAO MOREIRA
2022 - NASH RAWILLER
2021 - JAMES McDONALD
2020 - GLEN BOSS
2019 - HUGH BOWMAN
2018 - BLAKE SHINN
2017 - HUGH BOWMAN
2016 - HUGH BOWMAN
2015 - HUGH BOWMAN
2014 - TOMMY BERRY/JAMES McDONALD