Seven Days: A Coronation in Chantilly

Just when you thought a fully-charged Royal Ascot couldn't be topped, along came Hollie Doyle. 

The royal meeting was sadly missing The Queen for all five days this year but, France's republican tendencies aside, there are few in the racing world who would deny that Doyle is now the queen of Chantilly after reaching yet another milestone to become the first woman to ride a Group 1 Classic winner in Europe.

Her great triumph came aboard Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Imad Al Sagar, who was achieving an important landmark victory of his own with his first homebred Classic winner for his Blue Diamond Stud. It is now not even remarkable to see Doyle booked for top rides. She's so good at what she does, proving it day in and day out, from Group 1 showcase races to Class 6 handicaps, but there are not many of those top-class horses to go around.

For this observer, it was a punch-the-air moment when Doyle was announced as first jockey for Al Sagar three seasons ago. It felt important that a woman should be given a prominent retainership in the first place, and more symbolic that this offer was made by an Arab owner. It was an inspired and refreshing move on Al Sagar's part, and a thoroughly deserving position for Doyle. If she hadn't already, she has certainly repaid his faith in her now.

Doyle is five wins clear at the head of the jockeys' table for this calendar year. The nonsensical shortening of the jockeys' championship from the Guineas meeting to Champions Day means that a number of those 85 wins don't count, so she lies in fourth place in the 'championship', if we can call it that. Given the unwelcome publicity surrounding Oisin Murphy's behaviour and the conclusion to last year's jockeys' title, we could do with some better news in that regard, and one story that would guarantee more front-page, good-news headlines for racing would be the first female champion jockey. Doyle will get there one day, no doubt.

Al Sagar, as a breeder who has recently undertaken a significant restructuring of his two farms near Newmarket that comprise his Blue Diamond Stud operation, now finds himself in the happy position that his paddocks contain the dams of both female French Classic winners this season. As already noted in these pages, he bought Zotilla (Ire) (Zamindar), the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), later in the year that her future Classic heroine was foaled. Nashwa's dam Princess Loulou (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) was bought as a yearling. 

Frankel's Classic Touch

Nashwa was of course only the second Group 1 winner of the week for her sire Frankel and trainers John and Thady Gosden, who also had last year's leading 2-year-old filly Inspiral (GB) primed to perfection for her return in the G1 Coronation S., which was arguably the race at Ascot with the greatest depth.

Her victory was vengeance for her dam Starscope (GB) (Selkirk), who had been second in both the Coronation and the 1,000 Guineas of 2012, and Inspiral, who was the fourth generation of her family to have been bred by Cheveley Park Stud, became their fourth Coronation S. winner after Exclusive (GB), Russian Rhythm and Nannina (GB). The Thompson family's operation also enjoyed some reflected glory at Ascot as the breeder of surprise Chesham S. winner Holloway Boy (GB) and Buckingham Palace S winner Inver Park (GB), whose victories would have been all the sweeter for the fact that they are by one of the stud's resident sires, Ulysses (Ire), and the late former star of the stallion yard, Pivotal (GB).

Frankel still has some way to go to peg back Dubawi (Ire) if he is to retain his champion sire title this year, but the season is not even halfway through yet. One of the notable absentees on the quick ground at Ascot was his daughter Homeless Songs (Ire), the sensational winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas. An eventual clash with Inspiral would be a mouth-watering prospect but, even without the filly, Moyglare Stud's 60th anniversary year continued in fine style with victory in the Gold Cup for another homebred, Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the rising star of the staying ranks. Never was a mare better named than his dam Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who has produced three Group 1 winners among her eight stakes winners. 

Frankel also featured as the damsire of the G3 Jersey S. winner Noble Truth (Fr), who is a son of his stud mate Kingman (GB).  It was a second major international winner for the family in less than a month as Noble Truth was bred by Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois from Speralita (Fr), an unraced sister of the six-time Group/Grade 1 winner Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), who took the Prix de Diane 13 years ago. As a broodmare Stacelita has plied her trade in Japan for Teruya Yoshida with great success, providing Frankel with his first Classic winner anywhere in the world when their daughter Soul Stirring (Jpn) won the GI Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks).

There has been further notable success for the Japanese wing of the family this season with Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who is a grand-daughter of Stacelita and won the GI Oka Sho (1,000 Guineas) on April 22 followed by the Yushun Himba on May 22. Her dam Southern Stars (Smart Strike) has a colt foal catalogued for the foal section of the JHRA Select Sale, which takes place on July 11 and 12.

Dubawi Wears the Crown

With five winners, including a one-two in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. with Naval Crown (GB) and Creative Force (Ire), Dubawi owns all the bragging rights among the sires represented at Royal Ascot. In fact, he is presently lording it over all-comers in Europe by just about every metric with 24 stakes winners led by four individual Group 1 winners this year.

One of the latter, Coroebus (Ire), followed up his 2,000 Guineas victory with a G1 St James's Palace S. success, to cement a memorable opening day for the Maktoum family following the procession of the unbeaten Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne S.

Dubawi's son New Bay (GB) also deserves plenty of plaudits with two group winners at the meeting. His daughter Saffron Beach (Ire) returned to the winner's enclosure in imperious fashion in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S., while her stable-mate Claymore (Ire) landed his first group-race strike in the G3 Hampton Court S. We'll be hearing more about their trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam's love of New Bay in Wednesday's TDN.

And let's not forget Dubawi's French-based son Zarak (Fr), who continues to make giant strides in the second-season sires' table. It has to be said that he looks the stand-out of this intake at this stage, with La Parisienne (Fr) going close to giving him a first-crop Classic winner in the Prix de Diane when running Nashwa to a neck. 

Admittedly Churchill was first off the mark in that regard with the very impressive Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni (Fr), and it was exciting to hear that this Aga Khan-bred colt is under consideration to be supplemented for the G1 Coral-Eclipse next month. But Zarak leads the way with five black-type winners, which equates to 11 per cent of his runners, and he also had Times Square (Fr) placed in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

On With The Show

The sole appearance of Showcasing (GB) at Royal Ascot ended in ignominious defeat when he trailed in last of the 24 runners for the G1 Golden Jubilee S. But he has fared much better as a sire, notably with two G1 Commonwealth Cup winners in Quiet Reflection (GB) and Advertise (GB), while Soldier's Call (GB) won the Windsor Castle S. of 2018, and Tasleet (GB) and Cappella Sansevero (GB) finished runner-up in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G2 Coventry S. respectively.

Showcasing was represented again this year by the smart G2 Queen Mary S. winner Dramatised (Ire), who provided a first major homebred success for Steve Parkin's Branton Court Stud. By that stage, the aforementioned Shadwell stallion Tasleet, whose first crop are now juveniles, was given a major boost by the G2 Coventry S. win of his son Bradsell (GB), who was sold as a breezer by Mark Grant to Tom Biggs and Archie Watson for £47,000, and presumably for many multiples of that after scorching to his nine-length maiden win on York's Knavesmire exactly a month after his appearance at Goffs UK.

Bradsell, bred by Deborah O'Brien, was one of two runners at Royal Ascot for the Bahrain-based Victorious Racing, the other being the Windsor Castle S. runner-up Rocket Rodney (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}). He too had been purchased after an impressive novice win, this time at Goodwood for George Scott.

Whitsbury Manor Stud, which has stood Showcasing for his entire 12-season stud career to date, will have taken plenty of encouragement from the results of the royal meeting. Not only did they breed Tasleet before selling him to Sheikh Hamdan, but another of their own young sires featured prominently among the juvenile races. 

Havana Grey (GB) is currently romping away with 18 winners from his first crop and is seven clear of his nearest pursuer in that category, Sioux Nation. Though he is yet to join Tasleet and James Garfield (Ire) with a stakes winner, Havana Grey does have four black-type horses to his name, with Maylandsea (GB) having finished second in Queen Mary and Eddie's Boy (GB) third in the Windsor Castle.

There was further success for Showcasing at Chantilly on Sunday where Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe homebred Belbek (Fr) landed the G3 Prix du Bois.

An Ascot for Everyone

As much as Royal Ascot represents some of the elite of European racing, the addition of handicaps in the first year of Covid has increased the potential for participation for owners and trainers, and the results reflected a broad spectrum of yards of all sizes.

George Boughey has been the up-and-coming name for the last couple of seasons and, with a Classic winner under his belt, he can now be considered to have truly arrived. His string is far from small on Newmarket Heath these days and he once again illustrated how adept he is in getting a great tune out of horses bought in training, usually in tandem with his great friend and ally Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock. Together they bought the Golden Gates H. winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road) for 40,000gns in February and, now with three wins from four runs under his belt, the 3-year-old looks a promising individual who had been an expensive foal purchase for Shadwell in America. 

Similar comments apply to Inver Park (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was already a decent dual winner for Mick Quinn when sold last October at Goffs UK for £35,000. He too has found a winning groove this spring, with his Buckingham Palace S. win being his third on the bounce. 

While Hollie Doyle is usually riding against her husband Tom Marquand, Hayley Turner is in the more agreeable position of riding for her partner Harry Eustace, the second-season trainer who bagged a Royal Ascot winner with his first ever runner at the meeting. Hopefully the much celebrated success of Latin Lover (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the Palace of Holyroodhouse H. will put Eustace's name on the radar of more owners as he is currently enjoying a fantastic season on a strike-rate of 24 per cent winners to runners. 

It's true then. The louder you shout the faster they run. Latin Lover wins the last at Ascot on Day 4. #scenes pic.twitter.com/6bCiDsj3wj

— Harry Eustace (@H_Eustace) June 18, 2022

Huge credit must also go to Dave Evans for brining Rohaan (GB) (Mayson {GB}) back to Ascot in great shape to claim his second successive Wokingham S.

It was pleasing to hear the 4-year-old's co-owner Chris Kiely get his priorities right when saying after the race, “I've had two kids and got married, but this is the best moment of my life.” Let's just hope his wife and children weren't listening in.

Jane Chapple-Hyam put all her fellow trainers in the shade, however, when bringing three horses to the royal meeting and waltzing home with two group wins and a runner-up in the Royal Hunt Cup. As already mentioned, we will be reflecting more on the success of her Abington Place stable tomorrow.

A Royal Nod For Tattersalls

There's always plenty to take in during Ascot week so you may have missed the announcement of a small adjustment to the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. The four-day auction which follows hard on the heels of a day of yearlings and four days of foal sales at Park Paddocks will now feature a specifically labelled 'Sceptre Session' which takes its name from the star filly of the early 1900s and a former Tattersalls sale record-breaker.

To a degree, the Tuesday evening of the mare sale, when this select session of high-class broodmares and breeding prospects is set to take place, is already one of the high points in the sales calendar when it comes to drama. Quite frankly, if you're a bloodstock aficionado and you weren't playing your part in the mass game of Sardines in the Tatts ring when the likes of Dancing Rain (Ire) and Marsha (Ire) sold for millions, then where were you? 

Having up to 75 of the highest-profile offerings clearly labelled in one select session within a session makes a lot of sense, though it will make for an even more fraught couple of hours than usual for the weary bloodstock journalists on the hunt for quotes. A timely reminder to start getting into training for the sales season.

The post Seven Days: A Coronation in Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

History For Hollie Doyle As Frankel’s Nashwa Wins The Diane

If riding Classic winners came down to sheer ability alone, there was never a question that Hollie Doyle would achieve the landmark sometime soon but even the best need the horse to get it done and on Sunday she had just that as Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) conquered Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. So good by this point, Doyle has almost transcended the subject of female jockeys winning Europe's monuments but it still had to happen and in Imad Al Sagar's TDN Rising Star she had the ideal portal to the promised land. Sent off the 3-1 favourite with the deadly combination of the best form, having been third in the Oaks 13 days earlier, and a perfect inside berth, the bay was caught in front from the break with no takers for the pace-setting role. Tending to race a touch free as a result, the question was what would the Gosdens' raider have for the finish when taking command just over 300 metres from the line. Despite the attack of Peter Bradley and the Lerners' La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), there was always something in the tank and the prevailing margin was a short neck, with 4 1/2 lengths back to Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in third.

“I haven't got the words to explain how I feel–I am privileged to be in the position I am in,” she said. “She's very good, as things didn't pan out how I wanted but she has plenty of class and responded to pressure. She's a star. It's such a prestigious race and this is a huge honour.” John Gosden said of the winning jockey, “She's a very talented rider with great character. The race was a muddle and we didn't intend to be on the front, but it came out well. This is the filly's distance–the Oaks was too far.”

Nashwa debuted in the seven-furlong Newmarket novice in October dominated by the classy Haggas runner Golden Lyra (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and ran the kind of race full of promise expected of a future Oaks winner, before earning TDN Rising Star status with a 6 1/2-length romp on her comeback at a mile at Haydock Apr. 23. Prepping for her Classic in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. over a mile and a quarter May 14, she continued to excite with a smooth win from Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who in a twist of fate would go on to beat Golden Lyra in the Listed Abingdon S. next time. Epsom-bound despite initial talk of coming here, Nashwa gave a solid display to follow home Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) over a trip that stretched her on a track that also looked to have compromised her, but this was the kind of quick turnaround for which Gosden Sr is not renowned.

Helped by being handed a golden draw in two, with the 5-1 second favourite Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on her inside, Nashwa was sent forward from the break to take full advantage but ended up exposed in the front line until Ioritz Mendizabal crossed over on Tariyana (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). With that filly providing only brief cover, Doyle was committed to staying at the fore matching strides with Olivier Peslier on Agave and they straightened for home together prepared for what seemed to be a private match. By the time they passed the 300-metre marker, the Juddmonte filly was beginning to back out of the fight and it was Gerald Mosse and La Parisienne who emerged from behind as the biggest threat. Having been smuggled up the rail, the 22-1 shot looked to have been delivered with perfect timing but Nashwa gave generously to keep her at bay and provide her rider with the milestone victory. There was a moment of great sportsmanship and kinship after the line, with the veteran maestro Mosse demonstrating his class and confirming why he is widely held with such distinction in racing by congratulating his ground-breaking young jockey rival.

“I've got a lot of people to thank,” Doyle said. “Without Imad Al Sagar I don't know if I would ever have been in the position to get an opportunity like this. These types of horses are hard to come upon and I'm only 25, so it's relatively early on in my career and I feel pretty lucky. I felt very vulnerable at the two-furlong pole, I'm not going to lie. It was a muddling race and I felt beforehand someone would be a bit more decisive pace-wise than they were. I didn't really want to be where I was, but she was very relaxed and happy to be one off the rail with a bit of company either side. She's versatile and responsive when needs be. When the second horse came to my girths she really dug deep, which was great to see. I think she could be even better next year.”

“If you'd said to me three years ago that I would be riding in a Classic for Mr Gosden I'd have laughed,” she added. “To be in this position is incredible and when you ride at this level, the trainer has done all they can and the owner has put you in position, so it's down to me on the day. I just expect a lot from myself and I don't want to let people down. You have to prepare yourself to be at your best when given the opportunity and that's what I try and do.”

John Gosden continued his praise of the rider and said, “The owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar said to me two or three years ago that he had two or three jockeys he was looking at and wanted to retain a jockey. He showed me the list and I said 'Hollie Doyle', and I know other people would back me on that. She's hugely talented and horses run for her. She's incredibly meticulous and hard-working and she analyses things properly. The race didn't work out how we thought, but we did have the Plan B to stay forward if that occurred and she's shown herself as a class rider and the filly is a class filly who was beautifully ridden. I am proud and Thady is extremely proud, because it's the youth team teaming up again. It's quite obvious that I'll be surplus to requirements quite soon with the youthful Thady and Hollie!”

Of Nashwa's immediate target, he added, “I think she'll have a freshen up. She's run in two Oaks, which is tough, but she seemed remarkably calm after the race and was having a very natural, normal blow. Star of Seville won this a few days after the Oaks, but she didn't have a hard race there as she was stopped three out and just hacked home. One race that stands out is the Prix de l'Opera and I think if we make that our big target and come back from there, that would be the way to play it. I think she definitely deserves a freshen up and a summer holiday now.”

The €65,000 Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale graduate La Parisienne had looked one of the better outsiders, having won impressively at Deauville and Saint-Cloud before finding only Hidden Dimples (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in the 11-furlong Listed Prix de la Seine. Bought into by the Kentucky-based Peter Bradley earlier this year, she has provided handsome reward for that 70% investment with Marc Leonetti, JML Racing, Meridian International and Remy Dupuy-Naulot also involved. The original plan had been to send her to Chad Brown this year, but there was no decision immediately after Sunday's race, just mass celebration of playing such a key role in the Classic.

Yann Lerner was overcome with emotion at the performance of the runner-up and said, “It is almost a victory and to participate in such races with a chance is what we dream about all the time. She had a perfect trip, she came out in time to win it but the winner was too good.” Yann's father Carlos added, “We have always like this filly, who was bred at Haras du Cadran by my long-time friend Pierre Talcard. He had recommended me to buy her at the yearling sales and I did well to follow his advice.” Gerard Larrieu, representing Rosacea's owner Haras de la Perelle, commented, “She ran a great race and Christophe Soumillon was very happy with her effort. She finished strongly, showed her usual turn of foot but with the bad draw she was left with too much to do.”

Nashwa, who is the eighth Classic winner for her sire, is the third foal out of the Listed Gillies Fillies' S. winner and G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Princess Loulou (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). She is a granddaughter of the Listed Princess Elizabeth S. runner-up Sweeping (GB) (Indian King), who produced the dual listed-winning sprinter Watching (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who was also runner-up in the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene here. Sweeping is also the second dam of the listed scorer Nufoos (GB) (Zafonic), who in turn produced three black-type winners in the G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Mill Reef S. hero Awzaan (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), the G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Muraaqaba (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Listed Sandringham H. winner and dual group 3-placed Muteela (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Also related to the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Ball Lightning (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) and the GIII Will Rogers S. scorer Media Mogul (GB) (First Trump {GB}), Princess Loulou's yearling filly is by Decorated Knight (Ire) while she also has a colt foal by Dubawi (Ire).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-19, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.63, g/s.
1–NASHWA (GB), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Princess Loulou (Ire) (SW-Eng, G1SP-Fr & GSP-Ire, $175,317), by Pivotal (GB)
     2nd Dam: Aiming (GB), by Highest Honor (Fr)
     3rd Dam: Sweeping (GB), by Indian King
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Hollie Doyle. €571,400. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, 5-3-0-2, €696,538. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–La Parisienne (Fr), 126, f, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Skysweeper (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (€65,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Peter R Bradley III, Marc Leonetti, Ecurie JML Racing, Meridian International SARL & Remy Dupuy-Naulot; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran, Ecurie Patrick Klein & SCEA Haras du Ma (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €228,600.
3–Rosacea (Ire), 126, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Relizane (GB), by Zamindar.
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel. €114,300.
Margins: SNK, 4HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 22.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Agave (GB), Fall In Love (Ire), Daisy Maisy (GB), Zellie (Fr), Tariyana (Fr), Beaute Cachee (Fr), Place du Carrousel (Ire), Babala (Ire), Toy (Ire), Times Square (Fr), Queen Trezy (Fr), Yukata (Ire), Nadette (Fr), Galla (Fr). Scratched: Ottilien (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post History For Hollie Doyle As Frankel’s Nashwa Wins The Diane appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tasleet’s Bradsell Best In The Coventry

Becoming the first of the TDN Rising Stars to emerge successful at Royal Ascot in 2022, Victorious Racing Limited's Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}–Russian Punch {GB}, by Archipenko) conquered a host of talent to win the G2 Coventry S. under Hollie Doyle. Keen initially from her draw in the centre, the Archie Watson-trained £47,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate tracked Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to two out and after taking over soon after forged away for a 1 1/2-length verdict over Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who edged Royal Scotsman by a neck for second.

 

The post Tasleet’s Bradsell Best In The Coventry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Doyle says Major Oaks Player Nashwa is ‘Everything You Want in a Racehorse’

Hollie Doyle has described Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as being “everything you want in a racehorse” ahead of her bid to become the first female rider to win a Classic when she partners John and Thady Goden's rapidly-improving filly in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom on Friday. 

Doyle is well used to breaking boundaries at this stage, with her tally of 152 winners in 2021 surpassing her own record of winners in a calendar year for a female jockey.

She has also ridden two five-timers, became the first woman to be successful on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot and finished third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Doyle now appears to have her best chance yet of becoming the first woman to ride a British Classic winner aboard Nashwa, who is second in the betting behind stablemate Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Taking inspiration from Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, Doyle admits it would be a huge moment for women in sport if she can strike Classic gold.

“It would be an absolute dream come true. You're always looking to progress throughout your career and it would be another box ticked,” she said.

“Like Rachael Blackmore winning the Grand National, winning a British Classic is something I dream of doing over the next 10 years or so, so if it could happen on Friday it would be great.

“Look at the reaction there was when Rachael won the Grand National. It's one of the toughest horse races in the world to win and she did that, so if I could win a British Classic it would be a dream come true for me personally and could hopefully inspire other women to get into the sport. It's a great opportunity to get a ride with a live chance.”

Seen by many as a trailblazer, Doyle has become accustomed to the extra attention that generates and insists she is fully focussed about the task in hand.

“I'm fairly used to it now. Every time I've done something new this is what happens, which is great,” she said in a Qipco British Champions Series Zoom call on Monday.

“I'm used to it and take it all in my stride. Ultimately I'm a jockey and I've got a job to do, that's how I approach it.”

Nashwa brings strong claims to the table, having built on the promise of a third-placed finish at Newmarket on her sole juvenile start with impressive wins at Haydock and Newbury this spring.

The one question that remains unanswered ahead of her appearance at Epsom is whether her stamina will last out on her first start over a mile and a half, but Doyle is optimistic.

She said, “I was very pleased with the performance at Newbury, as at Haydock I kind of gave her a no excuses ride, jumped out in the box seat and she was a little bit gassy.

“Stepping up into listed company at Newbury, I just wanted to ride her quietly to see how she'd relax and go through the gears and she relaxed beautifully-and was very responsive when I asked her.

“To me there was no definitive answer off the back of that performance whether she'd stay a mile and a half or not, but I think she ticks a lot of boxes that need ticking, so we'll find out won't we?”

The post Doyle says Major Oaks Player Nashwa is ‘Everything You Want in a Racehorse’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights