Is James McDonald the best jockey in the world? It might be a premature suggestion but in time the young New Zealander surely will be recognised as such.

At Goodwood on Tuesday there were victories for Ryan Moore, who most regard as the best around, and Silvestre de Sousa, the champion, but it was the image of McDonald cruising to victory aboard Dutch Connection in the featured Qatar Lennox Stakes that will linger longest in the memory.

Dutch Connection had not won for 15 months and his reputation of being a “nearly” horse was growing with every outing. “Not easy to win with” one paddock observer told his wife as the striking chestnut walked past them.

Yet McDonald, having only his sixth ride at the tricky track, rode the Godolphin-owned four-year-old as if victory was always a formality and breezed past Home Of The Brave, wearing the same colours, in the closing stages as if he was riding a piece of work.

The 24-year-old took extra satisfaction from the fact that the winner was trained by Charlie Hills, having initially spent his first spell in England with the trainer three years ago.

Hills recalled the reaction of his father, Barry, when seeing McDonald ride work for the first time. “The first morning he was here Dad said ‘who’s that jockey? I haven’t seen a jockey like that on these gallops since Steve Cauthen’. That’s a high accolade.

“He’s so cool [on a horse]. He’s young but already done so well, riding something like 20-30 Group One winners. He has such a good relationship with horses and is very positive.”

Sheikh Mohammed was present to witness the one-two and must have take extra satisfaction from the fact he purchased both horses in May.

In the long term, though, it is his capture of McDonald, who he has retained since March last year, that seems likely to be one of his shrewdest bits of business.

William Buick’s 30-day ban has given British racing fans the chance to see exactly what McDonald can do.

He has had 75 rides, won 17 races and finished in the first four in another 33. Any punter putting £10 on each of his rides would have made a profit of more than £400.

He has won from the front, such as on Big Orange at the July meeting, and from behind, such as when he came from the clouds on Antiquarium in the Northumberland Plate after trading at 999-1 in-running.

The New Zealander is no one-trick pony and strong, too, almost forcing Qewy home in the £100,000 staying handicap that followed the Lennox Stakes. Unfortunately, he tried a little too hard, incurring a whip ban for excessive use.

McDonald will ride for the rest of Goodwood before flying back home this weekend to Sydney, where he is champion, to resume normal duties for John O’Shea, who has been Godolphin’s principal trainer in Australia since 2014.

O’Shea trains 400 horses and McDonald being away - even at the end of the Australian season when there is a lull - means he has been like a football manager without his star striker.

“John’s been on the phone regularly trying to get him back,” revealed John Ferguson, chief executive of Godolphin. “He’s a massively important part of Godolphin Australia, so he needs to get back to do his main job.

“If William [Buick] was going to get a 30 day-ban, he could not have timed it better with James being available.

“James is a great guy and great asset and, as you can see, a superb rider to boot. He goes from strength to strength and will be back next summer.”

The next few weeks will be crucial to Godolphin in Australia.

“What we are aiming at now is getting in prep races before the Flemington and Melbourne carnivals,” Ferguson said.

“It is a massively important part of our season. We will win over $16 million (Australian dollars) in prize money this year, so you’ve got to have your top man there.”

McDonald became irresistible to the boys in blue after he enjoyed Group One success in the Golden Slipper, ATC Oaks, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Caulfield Guineas in 2014.

He also clinched the Sydney Jockey Premiership that year, becoming the first New Zealander to do so in 14 years.

Godolphin’s first Group One success since establishing a presence in Australia came when Contributer, the 2014 Wolferton Handicap winner, landed the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm in February 2015, with McDonald on his back.

He has since recorded Group One victories for Godolphin on Hartnell, Exosphere and Magic Hurricane to name just a few.

Like Moore, he is a man of  few words but he admitted: “I’ve had a fabulous time here. We’ve got a big carnival coming up in  Australia and we’ve got a strong team - I’m looking forward to going home.”

And we can already look forward to having him back.