English jockey James Doyle has recovered from a broken hand and will be back in the saddle on Saturday to ride the Godolphin owned Magic Hurricane in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill.
Jockey James Doyle, above winning on Veranillo, will be back in the saddle to ride Magic Hurricane in The BMW at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Doyle is a retained rider the Godolphin’s English operation but was sent to Sydney to replace James McDonald who was disqualified for eighteen months for placing a bet on his mount Astern back in December 2015.
Doyle had settled well into the Australian style of racing but was forced onto the sideline after he broke his hand when his mount Pearls, crashed to the ground in the Group 3 $150,000 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 13.
The Englishman was forced to miss the start of the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival but is glad to be back for this weekend’s Group 1 racing and will be ready for day one of ‘The Championships’ at Randwick the week later.
Doyle will ease back into the saddle at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting before Saturday’s Rosehill program that will also host the running of the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 26, 2016
“My wrist and knee have healed well and I am delighted to resume racing on Wednesday,” Doyle said.
“It has been a frustrating few weeks missing out on some of the key Autumn races.”
“I have some exciting rides to look forward to for the rest of ‘The Championships’ and I can’t wait to get back into the action.”
Magic Hurricane began his career in England before being sent to Australia and trainer John O’Shea was able to prepare the Hurricane Run gelding to win the Group 1 $750,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick during the 2015 Sydney Spring Carnival.
The seven year old will go into Saturday’s The BMW with three runs under belt after running into Winx twice at Randwick for a fifth in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) and a fourth in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) followed by an eighth to Tavago in the Group 3 $350,000 McGrath Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 11.
Doyle is also booked to ride two year old colt Astoria in the Group 3 $150,000 The Schweppervescence Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.
Last Saturday’s Golden Slipper Race Day at Rosehill was run on a very heavy track and it looks likes the track is going to be rain affected again this weekend with showers forecast every day for the remainder of the week.
