James McDonald on Elector prior to the King Edward VII Stakes last year. Photo / John Walton / PA via Getty Images
James McDonald can hardly believe his luck.
Although it isn't really luck when you are as talented as the Kiwi jockey who is now rated up with the best in the world.
Talent like his is always in demand.
But standing in the parade ring at Royal Ascot, McDonald feels lucky. Yet also oddly at home.
"I love it here, to me it is still the most important race meeting in the world to be part of," says the former Cambridge wonder boy of the saddle.
"So any time I am here I feel lucky."
Even more so this year as two weeks ago McDonald had given up on riding at the Royal meeting this year.
Instead, tonight he will ride a horse for Her Majesty The Queen.
"It is a pretty amazing experience," admits McDonald.
"I rode for Her Majesty last year and got to meet her because she likes to come down and
see her horses before they race.
"So that is a thrill you just don't get used to and you have to make sure you act appropriately," he laughs.
McDonald will don The Queen's famous colours when he rides Eightsome Reel in race two in the early hours of tomorrow morning (NZ time). He is a 3-year-old colt by Iffraaj, who enjoyed so much success standing at Haunui Stud in South Auckland.
He isn't one of the favourites but McDonald knows the experience will be the zenith of a week he now holds so dear.
"When you think I didn't have any rides and wasn't going to even be here a few weeks ago, to have 13 rides is awesome.
"And to be honest, had I committed to coming earlier I would probably have even more."
While riding for The Queen will be the most Royal Ascot of moments, McDonald hopes he can achieve something even more tangible on Saturday morning (NZ time).
He rides second favourite Jubiloso in the £283,000 ($544,000) Coronation Stakes, the unbeaten filly trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
"It is very hard to get on horses like her in the big races at this meeting," admits McDonald. "So to get the call for her, to ride for Sir Michael and Juddmonte is a huge deal.
"She is my best chance of a major win for the week."
McDonald won a race at Royal Ascot last year and says now his career has skyrocketed he would love to become a Royal Ascot regular.
"If things keep going the way they are, then I'd love to spend a month or more here every year when things are a bit quieter back home," he says.
"Ideally I'd even love to come here and ride for a few weeks or a month before this meeting to get a base of rides.
"Because it is a special meeting and special place, when you are mixing it with guys like Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori.
"I am happy riding and living back in Sydney and thrilled with how things are going there.
"But to be able to mix that with riding here at the end of our season would be the dream situation."
The racing industry in Waikato looks to centralise operations.