Ollie's top jockeys and best rising stars in Australia

Champion jockey Damien Oliver was widely regarded as the top hoop in Australia when he retired in 2023, but who is the best jockey in the country now?

Speaking on SEN WA’s Breakfast, Oliver hailed the now all-time Group 1 winning jockey, James McDonald, as the premiere hoop of Australian racing.

Ollie also admitted Mark Zahra and Damian Lane are among his favourite jockeys as well.

“You'd have to say James McDonald, his record's phenomenal. He does get the great rides, but he delivers as well,” Oliver said.

“I've got a lot of time for our West Australian boys who are riding in Melbourne too – Mark Zahra and Damian Lane.

“I they're doing really well, so they're a couple of my favourites I like to watch these days.”

Regarding which young jockeys Ollie believes could develop into a star, the ex-jockey named three guns.

“There’s a couple of good, young apprentices riding in Melbourne at the moment to follow,” continued Oliver.

“I think Jabez Johnstone and Jackson Radley, a couple of young Tassie boys, they're doing quite well.

“And he's not that young, he's out of his time now but that is Tommy Stockdale, I reckon he's also going well.”

Oliver also touched on a potential issue rising with apprentice jockeys, where there aren’t enough males rising through the ranks.

Ollie exclaimed that it is great that there are so many young female apprentices, but the industry needs to be mindful of less and less males wanting to be apprentice hoops.

“You can't be who you can't see, and all the young girls are seeing the likes of Jamie Melham and Michelle Payne. They've got someone to aspire to and it's great! There's some great young female jockeys coming through as well,” exclaimed Oliver.

“But it's something we have to be mindful of. I think it's great the girls are getting the opportunity, but now I think it's swung too far the other way.

“We have to be careful that we have to keep the boys coming through as well.

“I think the size has something to do with it, but the pony clubs and the equestrian lead up to this. You go there and it's all girls, there's no boys, it's quite odd.”

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