Many of Australia’s best jockeys as well as overseas riders will converge on Royal Randwick on Saturday 6 April and Saturday 13 April to compete for the prestigious Nathan Berry Medal on Day 1 & Day 2 of the 2024 The Star Championships.
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 the eagerly anticipated 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.
Nathan Berry was 23yo and rode 351 winners during his career with his biggest win aboard Unencumbered in the Magic Millions in January 2014.
Nathan had also won Group Three races on Malavio (Tramway Stakes), Va Pensiero (Run to the Rose) and Unencumbered (McLachlan Stakes).
The Nathan Berry Medal is unique as it features his initials ‘NJB’ on the medal in the same font Nathan had on his racing jodhpurs, and is adorned by a dark & light blue ribbon – the colours he carried on Unencumbered.
Fittingly, Nathan’s twin brother Tommy tied for first in the inaugural 2014 Nathan Berry Medal with James McDonald.
James McDonald arrived late to claim the 2024 Nathan Berry Medal in the final The Star Championships event when Zougotcha scored a nose win in the Group 1-Queen of the Turf Stakes, defeating Blake Shinn on Atishu.
2024 NATHAN BERRY MEDAL – FINAL POINT SCORE
| Jockey | Total points |
| James McDONALD | 10 |
| Damian LANE | 9 |
| Blake SHINN | 8 |
| Mark ZAHRA | 6 |
| Jamie KAH | 5 |
| Tyler SCHILLER | 5 |
| Andrea ATZENI | 3 |
| Zac LLOYD | 3 |
| Declan BATES | 3 |
| Jason COLLETT | 3 |
| Kayla NISBET | 3 |
| Craig WILLIAMS | 3 |
| Tommy BERRY | 2 |
| Tom MARQUAND | 2 |
| Dylan GIBBONS | 2 |
| Sam CLIPPERTON | 2 |
| Zac PURTON | 1 |
| Rachel KING | 1 |
| Michael DEE | 1 |
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
