James Doyle
Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) became just the fifth horse in history to win the first two rounds of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge in the same year. Stepping up to 1900 metres for this first time in this $350,000 main track event sponsored by Emaar, the chestnut was forced to cover extra ground when leaving from stall eight. Unable to save any real estate on the clubhouse turn, he avoided the kickback generated by pacesetters Secret Victory (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) along the fence and Bendoog (Gun Runner), to that foe's outside....
The $180,000 G2 Al Rashidiya Presented By Azizi featured a Godolphin trifecta once the dust settled, as Valiant Prince (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) came out on top by three-quarters of a length over the better-fancied pair of Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Saeed bin Suroor, and Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). It was the second Friday of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, and a one/three finish for Charlie Appleby. The 1800-metre contest began with the eventual winner in close quarters under James Doyle and shuffled back to a...
American Boy Modern Games To Stand Stateside? Wouldn't it be cool if Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) stood at Darley's Jonabell Farm in America when his racing days come to an end? Now a dual Breeders' Cup winner and a Classic hero, he has emerged as one of the leading stallion prospects this season but, given Dalham Hall Stud is already jam-packed with sons of Dubawi, standing him in Newmarket could be akin to bringing an apple to an orchard. It's not like there are an abundance of turf stallions...
Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) began his 4-year-old season as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's best hope for the G1 Dubai World Cup, what with his towering success in the G2 UAE Derby as a sophomore. When things on the main track went belly-up over the winter at Meydan, trainer Charlie Appleby and team were compelled to call an audible and switched the gelding--clearly bred to handle the turf--to that surface. The decision has paid off in spades, as the lanky dark bay ran his grass record to five...
Lighting up Salisbury on Friday evening, Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) dominated the Listed Longines Irish Champions Weekend 10-11 September EBF Stonehenge S. as he had his July 27 Sandown novice to suggest he will be a leading light for next year's Derby. Always travelling comfortably under James Doyle taking a lead, the 4-11 favourite was allowed to cruise to Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and when let loose quickly overwhelmed that rival with over a furlong remaining en route to a 5 1/2-length success....
Godolphin's 2021 G2 UAE Derby hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) ended a two-race losing streak with victory in June's Listed Fred Archer S. at Newmarket, adding to his resume in Goodwood's G3 Glorious S. last month, and justified favouritism for a career high in Sunday's G1 Westminster 132nd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten. The March-foaled gelding, unbeaten on the turf, was positioned in rear with just one rival behind for most of this 12-furlong test. Scrubbed along to reduce arrears off the home...
Gallop Racing's 2-year-old distaffer Lakota Sioux (Ire) (Sioux Nation--Shemiyla {Fr} {GSW-Fr, $169,373}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) bounced back off a third in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S. to secure a career high in Saturday's G3 Jewson Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket, becoming the second black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy). She had earlier debuted with a May 20 third at Haydock before plundering a May 30 Lingfield maiden by 6 1/2 lengths in her penultimate start. The 10-3 second favourite was swiftly into stride and raced in a...
Charlie Appleby's juveniles are really starting to come to the fore and Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was the latest to shine brightly as he earned TDN Rising Star status with a 9 1/2-length success in Sandown's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice S. on Wednesday. Sent off the 2-5 favourite for the seven-furlong contest won 12 months ago by El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), having finished fourth in the Newmarket July Festival maiden won by TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the son of the G3 Prix...
Jockey James Doyle, who picked up the ride on Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) for the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. on Saturday, was pleased with the 5-year-old, after a spin on the Al Bahathri at Newmarket early on Wednesday morning. "It was an early start, but he felt fantastic," Doyle told Sky Sports Racing. "I jumped on him at 5:10 a.m. and he did a nice blow up the Al Bahathri, a gallop he knows well, and he felt in good order. There was no questions...
James Doyle, who has been enjoying a season to remember, has landed another plum ride after it was announced that he will replace David Egan aboard Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot. Egan recorded the biggest payday of his career when partnering the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mishriff to Saudi Cup glory in 2021, however, the ride aboard the three-time Group 1 winner became available after last week Prince Faisal revealed that he would be using the best...
Jockey Christophe Soumillon has had his twelve-day suspension for careless riding in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. reduced to eight days following an appeal hearing on Thursday. On board Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), the pair cut across and impeded the third- and fourth-placed finishers William Buick on Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for Charlie Appleby and James Doyle on Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for John and Thady Gosden after the winning post, as Soumillon celebrated. The stewards reviewed the race and subsequently handed out their suspension. Soumillon, speaking via...
Saturday's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. produced a surprise, but it was a welcome one for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby as Naval Crown (GB) edged out Creative Force (Ire) spread wide across the track to provide a one-two for the stable and the meeting's star sire Dubawi (Ire). Relishing a lead from the ultimately disappointing 5-2 favourite Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) racing stand's side, Naval Crown who was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint was sent on by James Doyle approaching two out and...