Is James McDonald protected by the media?

Trainer Wayne Hawkes believes that the champion jockey, who has won 128 Group 1s so far across his career, gets over-praised and escapes criticism by the media.

While the trainer is certain that J-Mac will go down as a legendary hoop, he has likened the jockey to a koala, suggesting that he is a protected species.

“I've got nothing against J-Mac, he rode the winner for us in the last, Saturday week ago, on Gangsta Granny. He's won a Golden Slipper for us (in 2014 on Mossfun),” Hawkes started on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“(But the media) goes on and on and on (about J-Mac)… Shut up all the time!

“There are other jockeys in the country besides James McDonald.”

The trainer continued by labelling other jockeys Damian Lane, Ben Melham, Craig Williams and Tommy Berry as hoops who should receive more recognition.

“D Lane, B Melham on his best day, Craig Williams goes ok, doesn’t he? Tommy Berry’s won three Slippers,” Hawkes exclaimed.

Hawkes then reassured that he has nothing against the champion hoop but is annoyed that J-Mac never comes under any scrutiny which other jockeys experience.

“I have nothing against J-Mac, (but) he's like Zac Purton - he slaughters four, rides three (winners), and you walk on Monday morning and go, ‘Oh, J-Mac rode three (winners).’

“What was J-Mac doing in the first last Saturday (on Jambalaya)? Was it ridden upside down? Was it all ridden wrong? Not a word said, it never is.

“He's like a koala; he’s a protected species!

“J-Mac's going to go down in legendary status, and he deserves to, but all my point is, is that we don't have to talk about him 24/7.”

James McDonald is looking to break the all-time Group 1 winning record on Saturday, which is currently held by Damien Oliver at 129 wins.