Jockey James Doyle will return to England battered and bruised to re-join the Godolphin team after riding at the All Aged Stakes meeting at Randwick on Saturday.
James Doyle, above in the Godolphin royal blue colours on the John O’Shea trained Veranillo, will return to England after riding at the All Aged Stakes meeting at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The weight for age $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) and the $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) for the two year olds are the last Group 1s to be run during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Doyle was recruited from England to ride for the Godolphin stable in Australia headed up by trainer John O’Shea after their retained jockey James McDonald was disqualified for eighteen months after being found guilty of placing a bet on the stable runner Astern in December 2015.
Doyle had a mixed stay in Sydney and as well as riding twenty winners, found himself on the sidelines for five weeks after breaking his wrist when his mount Pearls crashed to the turf in the Group 3 $150,000 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 13.
The English hoop was also the centre of attention when his mount Almoonqith broke down and fell just past the winning post in the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Blake Shinn was also dislodged from Who Shot Thebarman and the Sydney Cup was subsequently declared a no-race with Doyle and Shinn both shaken but escaping serious injury.
Doyle said that he has enjoyed his stint in Sydney but is keen to get back to England and team up again with Godolphin commencing on Tuesday at Newmarket.
“I have enjoyed riding in Sydney again. It was a great experience and I was fortunate to ride some very good horses for Godolphin,” Doyle said.
“Now, I’m looking forward to getting back for the Craven Meeting at Newmarket.
“It seems there are quite a few Godolphin horses in the picture for the Guineas, and I am looking forward to stepping up to the plate.”
Doyle has four rides at Randwick on Saturday, Federal in the Group 3 $150,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m), Raiment in the Group 3 $150,000 McGrath Estate Agents J H B Carr Stakes (1400m) and Moher in the $100,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (1400m) for O’Shea and will also ride the Matt Laurie trained Aberro in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m).
