McEvoy, 34, was headhunted following his Melbourne Cup win on Brew in 2000 and has netted more than 500 winners for Sheikh Mohammed including 29 wins group 1 wins. McEvoy will continue his career as a freelance jockey and Godolphin have indicated they will continue to use him as a rider in the future.

McEvoy has been taking outside rides away from Godolphin's local operation, Darley, in the past couple of months after changes at the racing giant. He went from being a retained jockey to a stable jockey as has been the philosophy of Godolphin worldwide. Sydney's leading jockey James McDonald had been sharing rides with McEvoy under Darley's new trainer John O'Shea.

"I have been blessed to have been given this amazing opportunity to ride for Godolphin and Darley all over the world – it has been a life-changing experience. I am indebted to Sheikh Mohammed and the whole team for their support over the journey and I wish them all the best for the future" McEvoy said in a statement.

"It has been great getting the continued support of many excellent trainers outside of Darley and I am really looking forward to developing some new and renewing some old relationships around Australia in the coming months."

McEvoy won races around the world for Sheikh Mohammed, including winning Prix Jacques le Marois in France on Dubawi in 2005 and Shamardal in the St James' Palace Stakes also in 2005. Both horses went on to become commercially successful stallions at stud.

In Australia, McEvoy won a Caulfield Cup on All The Good in the Godolphin blue in 2008, while his highlights while riding for Darley were Sepoy's Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double in 2011 and Helmet's win in the Caulfield Guineas in 2011.

Godolphin have stated it is unlikely to have a stable jockey in the immediate future.