With Godolphin's number one Australian jockey James McDonald caught up in an alleged betting infringement, UK-based James Doyle will step into the breach and ride for Godolphin in Australia until the McDonald matter has been resolved. Doyle has ridden for Sheikh Mohammed's team in Australia in the past and will take up his new role in early December. “This is a great opportunity to spend more time in Australia and I am looking forward to the challenge,” commented Doyle on his new role. John O'Shea is Godolphin's main trainer in Australia and he welcomed the move to install Doyle for the coming months. “We're blessed to have another world-class rider to step in when needed. James has been a member of our team here in Australia in the past and has always fitted in extremely well,” O'Shea said. Godolphin managing director in Australia Henry Plumptre reiterated that Godolphin would support McDonald while stewards in Sydney investigated allegations made against him. “While we continue to support James McDonald over the period of the investigation, we also have a racing stable to run and James Doyle, who is a retained jockey for Godolphin, is one of the best jockeys in the world. With the winter recess in the UK, he is available to ride in Australia for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed and we are delighted to have him,” Plumptre said.
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