The 22-year-old New Zealander started Wednesday even with Nash Rawiller on 70 wins and rode two winners to secure the premiership at the final meeting of the season in front of mum Di. It was fitting New Zealand-bred Bascule for premier trainer Chris Waller, also a Kiwi, gave McDonald the title with his first ride of the day before Ay No Digas won the fourth..

"It was good to get it over and done with the first ride," was McDonald's first thought after Bascule's win. "I didn't look at the big screen. I just kept my head and drove for the line. It has been a long time coming. I have to thank my manager Clock [Craig Tompson], who has kept me calm in the past couple of weeks, which have been a bit stressful. I still can't believe I've won it. I have only been here a couple of years and this is my second full season. I never thought I would ever do it."

McDonald's mother, after watching from home her son's struggle to get past Rawiller in the past month, decided to pay him a visit.

"I was in having a sweat and the bell just kept ringing last week," McDonald said. "I had half an hour to go and wasn't expecting anyone so I wasn't worried about it but eventually went to see who it was. I said 'Oh, mum'. She just flew over without telling me."

Ms McDonald knew the frustration that her son was experiencing in his drive to the title which stalled and faltered through suspension and bad luck in tight finishes.

"I thought I would come over and surprise him and see him win the premiership," Ms McDonald said. "It has been his dream to ride here and win the premiership for as long and I can remember. He had a couple of tough days and after Saturday I said to him go out and enjoy himself and it worked."

McDonald admitted there were times where he did not think he would catch Rawiller, who took up a riding contract in Japan at the beginning of July. He spent 32 days on the sidelines because of two suspensions in the last two months of the season.  "That second suspension I thought I had blown it," McDonald said. "Then there was that Wednesday here [at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago] where I got beaten on protest [on Copper] and in couple of photos. I went home that night pretty down. I'm a lot happier today than I was that day."

McDonald was one of three riders to have winning doubles on Wednesday.  Apprentice Winona Costin scored on Cocktail Time and Numbers before Sam Clipperton rounded out his time as an apprentice, winning the last two races on Martilago and Perfect Weapon. It completed a second consecutive apprentices title for Clipperton and the double came without the benefit of a claim, which he outrode last week. "It was nice to get those without my claim because that had been a goal of mine," Clipperton said.

Tim Bell got the better of Michael Cahill in the Brisbane premiership, winning on Colour Me Pretty to take the title by two wins at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.