Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald and partner Katie Mallyon buy $9m Vaucluse home

Jockey James McDonald, who rode Verry Elleegant to victory in this year’s Melbourne Cup, and his longtime partner Katie Mallyon have bought a $9m home in Sydney’s east.

McDonald said the Melbourne Cup win, his first, was “what dreams are made of”, and he and Mallyon, a former jockey, were photographed embracing immediately after last month’s momentous victory.

What wasn’t public at the time was that the 29-year-old New Zealander and Mallyon, who is 24 and also an Australian Turf Club racing ambassador and Channel 7 racing presenter, had already bought their “dream home” — a Vaucluse “doer-upper” with incredible harbour views at an online auction three months before.

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When contacted, Ray White TRG principal Gavin Rubinstein wouldn’t comment about the $9.05m buyer of the six-bedroom, three-bathroom home with four-car garage at 100 New South Head Rd, ever since he sold it under the hammer on September 14.

There’d been nine registered bidders and considerable speculation about the purchasers of the property, long-held by Elizabeth and Sunea Eisenstein.

However, this week’s settlement revealed them to be McDonald, inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in May, and Mallyon, the Victorian granddaughter of former champion jockey Mick Mallyon who confirmed her retirement as a jockey in 2018 after her move to Sydney to be with McDonald.

McDonald’s three-bedder in Coogee Bay Rd, Randwick, sold for more than $2.5m via Mark McPherson of McGrath just before the Melbourne Cup.

The couple’s Vaucluse home is quite a step up the property ladder.

On a 670 sqm block and built over three levels, it’s largely untouched since the 1990s and awaiting a makeover, but has good bones with a smart floorplan and open-plan living areas opening to terraces with those sweeping views.

The outlook even takes in the Harbour Bridge and stretches to Manly.

It was described as being “perfect to accommodate large and growing families” and “bathed in northern light”.

And the separate parent’s retreat opens to a covered deck.

The home has a private low-maintenance level backyard with a pool and spa. It’s also close by prestigious schools, Watsons Bay and beaches.

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Originally published as Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald and partner Katie Mallyon buy $9m Vaucluse home

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