Here’s the latest I can confirm based on recent reporting:
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James McDonald was fined HK$120,000 and suspended for eight race days for careless riding on Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong. The suspension runs from June 3 to June 11, 2026. He remains eligible to ride in Queensland races after the suspension period, but will miss the Queensland Oaks.[1][5]
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The incident occurred during the Champions & Chater Cup Group 1 in Hong Kong, where stewards found he directed Romantic Warrior inward near the 300m mark, causing heavy contact with another horse. The initial inquiry had cleared him, but a later guilty finding led to the penalty.[5][1]
If you’d like, I can pull more details on the specific stewards’ findings, the exact riding score, or provide a brief timeline of the Hong Kong G1 ride along with context on McDonald’s recent career milestones. I can also look for any updates on future ride permissions or additional comment from racing authorities.