When 24-year-old British jockey Hollie Doyle was named third in the 2020 edition of BBC's Sport Personality of The Year, she emulated a feat accomplished by the legendary Frankie Dettori and placed horse racing firmly in the spotlight. The award put her in the company of sporting legends like Formula One- star Lewis Hamilton and football icon Jordan Henderson.
It was a result of Doyle's very impressive list of extraordinary achievements in 2020. Riding five winners in one afternoon, a victory at Royal Ascot with G1 success on British Champions' Day, becoming the first woman to ride a winner at the International Jockeys' Championship in Hong Kong and her record-breaking 151 wins, with 373 podium finishes are just some excerpts from Doyle's remarkable year. In winning the award she also made a very important announcement to the world – that she had achieved success as an outstanding jockey, rather than a woman jockey.
Having learned to ride on a pony at a young age, Doyle claims, “I sat on a horse before I could even walk!”. Both her parents Mark and Caroline were jockeys, which meant Hollie was immersed in the sport from the very beginning, going on to attain unprecedented success through dedication and hard work.
One of the fittest jockeys on the circuit, amongst both men and women, Doyle is now a regular on the international arena, having earned a ride on the Breeders Cup card, Team Deirdre (Japan) called upon her services at the Bahrain International Trophy and she made history in Hong Kong, finishing third in the International Jockeys' Championship. Famous for her work ethic and relentless pursuit of excellence Hollie Doyle was named 2020 Sunday Times Sportswoman of The Year and HWPA Jockey of The Year in Britain, where many are of the opinion it is only a matter of time before she becomes the country's first female champion.
TONY MULLINS SCRIPTS PRINCESS ZOE'S RAGS TO RICHES STORY
On a damp Paris afternoon in the October of 2020, when a lucky few were allowed into Longchamp hoping to watch a great mare named Enable win a historic third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, they were instead wooed by a previously less-heralded mare-Princess Zoe-who proved the unexpected star. Enable was gracious in defeat, while Princess Zoe announced her entry into an elite club, by winning the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at France's premier racecourse, reversing her previous poor form, and rising to the top of the ratings charts in just half a year.
Irish trainer Tony Mullins is credited with this remarkable success story, having spotted her potential. He was instrumental in transforming this gutsy mare as she rapidly travelled up the ratings from 64 to 110 in under six months.
Having raced for a couple of seasons in Germany, Princess Zoe joined Tony Mullins for the 2020 season. Defeated on her first start for new connections armed with a rating of just 64, the Princess showed off her true class, when running through the opposition in her five next races, for impressive successes culminating in that Group 1 Prix du Cadran triumph with the sight of owner Paddy Kehoe and Mullins' celebrations proving heart-warming to many after a difficult year.
Princess Zoe will race on in 2021 when her target will be the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe itself.