Roman Mist and Hollie Doyle made every yard of the running to secure Listed glory in the William Hill Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.
Having her first run for Archie Watson since being bought out of Tom Ward’s yard for 360,000 guineas by David Howden, Roman Mist (7-1) showed a determined attitude to fend off the persistent challenge of Zellie, who finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas last year, by a neck.
The eyecatcher of the race was Henry Candy’s Araminta, who only made a winning debut 15 days previously yet she flashed home for third, gaining valuable black type.
Doyle told Racing TV: “I’d ridden her before and she’s a very tough filly.
“She got an easy lead today. We didn’t know about the ground with it being heavy now and her coming back from a lay off.
“She probably got very tired at the furlong pole, but she dug deep for me. Zellie was a useful filly in France and probably liked the ground more than my filly.
“It’s a good training performance and lovely to be riding winners for Mr Howden again.”
The Richard Hughes-trained Candle Of Hope was bidding to give the King a winner on coronation day, but the 18-1 shot could finish only a tired fourth, with 7-4 favourite Potapova pulled up on heavy ground.
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Hollie Doyle got on the scoresheet at Newcastle as she guided Rainbow Dreamer to victory in the BetUK All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes.
Alan King’s 10-year-old has been an ever-present in long-distance events on the synthetics and he was notching up his 13th career success and sixth with Doyle in the saddle.
Anchored towards the rear as Withhold and defending champion Earlofthecotswolds set a blistering pace, Doyle was able to slowly ease her mount into the contest and the Barbury Castle veteran was able to come into his own in the closing stages as he pulled out extra to hold off Olly Murphy’s Fleurman.
It was third time lucky for the 10-1 winner, who had finished fifth in the All-Weather Championships Finals Day contest 12 months ago and fourth in 2021 when the race was held at Lingfield.
For Doyle it was a third success since returning from the elbow injury she suffered in January and she was delighted to pick up another big staying pot at Gosforth Park having won the Northumberland Plate aboard the King-trained Trueshan last summer.
She said: “He’s an old legend, he’s 10 now and it seems like I’ve been riding him since I was an apprentice.
“Unfortunately I missed him this winter as I was away (in Japan and then injured), so it is very good of Alan and the owners to put me back on.
“I know there was loads of pace on and for a stayer he is a horse who can travel a bit, so I was never too worried. I got there too soon really but he deserved to win a big one today.
“I’m really lucky. I’ve been out for a while but thankfully this one was waiting for me when I got back.
“He’s run in this race a few times and he’s been knocking on the door, he’s very consistent. I think the strong pace helped him in the end.
“We’ve had a fair bit of luck up here together, with Trueshan winning the Plate.”
Murphy felt Fleurman had simply been beaten by a superior rival on the day, but some big Flat prizes remain in his sights.
He said: “He ran an absolute cracker. He has been seriously progressive on the all-weather. They went a good gallop and I thought he would win a furlong down, but Alan’s horse just kept going and we couldn’t get by him.
“We were second best on the day, but he ran an absolute belter. Whether we look at a Northumberland Plate back here or Royal Ascot, I am not sure, but he’s a progressive horse and hopefully his progression hasn’t stopped yet.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2.71662584-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngDaveM2023-04-07 14:56:542023-04-07 15:35:10Rainbow Dreamer secures Marathon gold medal
Hollie Doyle is set to make her return from over two months on the sidelines at Newcastle on Friday, before heading to Doncaster for the start of the Flat turf season in Britain this weekend.
The record-breaking rider took a crashing fall from The Perfect Crown at Wolverhampton on January 17, both fracturing and dislocating her elbow, as well as suffering ligament damage.
Doyle is thrilled to have have won her race against time to be fit for the new turf campaign, though, and will first blow away the cobwebs on the all-weather in the north east.
“Getting back for the start of the turf season was kind of a target for me and thankfully I’ve had the go-ahead,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to getting back in the saddle and doing what I love really.
“It’ll be good to get back to work. I know it’s been a long time, but I’ve always had it in my head that it could have been a lot worse. It’s sorted now, so hopefully I get a clean run at things now.
“A big thank you goes to Oaksey House and the Injured Jockeys Fund who have got me here.”
Doyle is poised to make her comeback aboard the Archie Watson-trained Rhythm N Hooves at Newcastle, while her weekend rides at Doncaster look set to include Richard Spencer’s Revich in the Lincoln and Wilderness Girl, trained by Adrian Nicholls, in the Cammidge Trophy.
“I think Archie has got a runner at Newcastle and he thought it would be a good idea for me to go up there and ride that one and then I can go on to Doncaster,” Doyle added.
“Obviously declarations aren’t done yet, but I’m down on Revich in the Lincoln, which is good. It’s great that Richard is supporting me as he’s been very good to me over the last few years.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2.67914805-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngDaveM2023-03-28 14:28:292023-03-28 14:28:29Hollie Doyle raring to go for Newcastle comeback on Friday
Tom Marquand is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in a fall at Randwick last Saturday.
The rider headed to Australia for a prolonged spell earlier this month after a couple of previous successful visits, most notably landing three Group Ones with Addeybb, and he enjoyed a winner aboard Cafe Millenium at Randwick last Friday.
However, when partnering Annabel Neasham’s Dorothy Gail in the A$2million Inglis Millennium the following day, he suffered a heavy fall having been hampered by the manoeuvre of the Josh Parr-ridden Hellish. Parr was subsequently suspended for 20 meetings for careless riding.
Marquand initially appeared to have escaped serious injury, but subsequent MRI scans have revealed a dislocation of his sternoclavicular joint and the jockey was due to have an operation on his shoulder in Australia on Wednesday.
“It has basically dislocated backwards, so I have to go for an operation today (Wednesday) to get it wired back in,” Marquand said in a video posted to Instagram.
“I will probably spend a week here now in Australia just because I can’t fly straight after having an operation.
“Then the plan will be to come back to England and go through my rehab there and hope that I can get back in action by the time the last couple of days of The Championships are on and all being well, head back down to Sydney.”
Marquand’s wife Hollie Doyle is also currently out of action after sustaining an elbow injury in a fall at Wolverhampton last month.
She had hoped she would not require surgery for the issue, but Marquand revealed she too needs further treatment.
He added: “Hollie is having a bit of a shocker as well, off with her elbow and she is going under the knife I think early next week,” Marquand said.
“We will be in rehab and recuperation together and be a right pair so at least we’ve got two arms between us.
“It’s obviously not ideal what’s going on, but I think we can both count ourselves pretty lucky in the circumstances.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2.68370432-1-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngDaveM2023-02-15 08:16:302023-02-15 08:16:30Marquand sidelined following shoulder surgery
Tom Marquand is to spend a night in hospital but appears to have escaped serious injury following a fall at Randwick.
Marquand has only just returned to Australia following previously successful spells in the country, and he had already been in winning form on the card when riding Cafe Millenium to victory in the Pierro Plate.
However, when partnering Annabel Neasham’s Dorothy Gail in the A$2million Inglis Millennium he hit the floor having been hampered by the manoeuvre of the Josh Parr-ridden Hellish. Parr was subsequently suspended for 20 meetings for careless riding.
“That was pretty horrible,” Neasham, who won the race with Learning To Fly, told SKY Thoroughbred Central.
“He (Marquand) is OK, he is sitting up, he is talking, he is holding his shoulder but he’s okay. He’s conscious, so he looks okay.”
Racing NSW later tweeted: “Tom’s CT scan of his head is clear, however he does have concussion and will be staying in hospital overnight. So far the scans on his shoulder have been clear.”
Marquand is due to ride in Qatar next weekend. His wife, Hollie Doyle, is also on the sidelines as she recovers from an elbow injury.
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Hollie Doyle is expecting to be back in action in a matter of weeks as she continues to recover from an elbow injury.
Doyle took a fall from The Perfect Crown at Wolverhampton on January 17 and suffered a dislocated elbow as well as ligament damage.
The record-breaking rider has a timesclae of four to five weeks before a return to race riding – but still harbours hopes she can be back before then.
“I saw a specialist yesterday and he said things couldn’t be any better for the stage we are at,” she told Sky Sports Racing on Friday.
“I’m hoping within the next few weeks I’ll be back on track.
“I dislocated my elbow and ruptured both ligaments around my elbow – and fractured it as well – but thankfully it put itself back into place which was good and I haven’t had to have it operated on.
“I didn’t think it was broken, but I knew something wasn’t right. I’d never dislocated anything before and I had a sicky feeling so I was surprised when I found out I’d done the damage I did. It could have been a lot worse.
“I’ve been in Oaksey House everyday and they’ve been fantastic. The day after the fall I was there for physio, physically I was fine so I was keen to keep my fitness up.
“I’m probably their worst nightmare as I’m trying to force it, but time is a healer.
“Worst case scenario is another four or five weeks off, but I’m hoping to be back sooner than that.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2.70602666-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngDaveM2023-02-03 18:06:572023-02-03 18:06:57Hollie Doyle hoping to make riding return sooner than forecast
Tom Marquand would love to return to Japan to ride again at the end of the British Flat racing season.
The 24-year-old, along with wife and fellow jockey Hollie Doyle, competed in the last two International Jockeys Championships in Hong Kong before heading to Japan for a nine-week stint.
It was the couple’s first trip to Japan, with Covid restrictions having scuppered their plans in 2021 – and the fervent Japanese fans instantly took them to their hearts.
After booting home 16 winners and securing a fourth-placed finish on Daring Tact in the Japan Cup and another Group One ride on Justin Palace in the Arima Kinen, Marquand cannot wait to get back, if invited.
“It is one of the places that everyone in racing should try to visit, just to see it,” he said.
“For as much as people can tell you about it, until you actually go and experience it for at least a couple of weeks, it is pretty mad.
“Everyone should try to get out there. Apart from the racing, it is an amazing country. I’d go back in a heartbeat.”
Marquand and Doyle, who is sidelined with a broken elbow sustained in a fall at Wolverhampton on January 16, will bid to apply to return at the end of the year.
“We will definitely try to go back this year,” he said.
“Sadly, it is not quite as straightforward as saying, ‘I want to go, I’ll go’, like Australia.
“But hopefully, the fact that we had a successful enough trip will help. The application for a licence is based on your success from the year previous, so it is based on what we have done in 2022 in England.
“We were joint second in the championship and you have to be top three in England and/or have ridden two major Group One winners. We both had three last year, so hopefully that will be enough to get back in.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2.67592985-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngDaveM2023-01-22 14:54:592023-01-22 14:54:59Marquand would love chance to be big in Japan again
As Frankie Dettori begins his long goodbye, a farewell tour before retirement from the saddle at the end of this year, the sport of racing will scratch its head and wonder just how it is going to fill the void.
Dettori has affected the brand like no other before him. He is known worldwide. The flamboyant Italian has achieved almost everything that can be achieved in the saddle.
Now at the age of 52, Dettori is almost done punching the clock and his weighing-room colleague Tom Marquand insists there will be no one who can do as much for the visibility of the sport.
“I don’t think anyone could fill the gap that Frankie is going to leave, because he is Frankie,” said Marquand.
“He is someone that won’t be replaced, not only because of his achievements but the way he goes about it as well – he’s Frankie, no one else is going to be Frankie. Anyone else can try, but they are not going to manage it.”
Marquand, 24, married fellow jockey Hollie Doyle in March last year. The pair, who met when pony racing, have been dubbed racing’s ‘Golden Couple’.
They shared the spoils behind William Buick in the Flat jockeys’ championship last term, each riding 91 winners between the Guineas meeting and Champions Day. Both had a trio of Group One victories.
The fact that Hollie and Tom are both extremely good at their jobs and are highly personable, professional and generous with their time, makes them a marketing dream.
Becoming A-list racing celebrities was never part of the plan. Marquand says he is not yet used to it, much less feels like he deserves it.
“We have never really gone out of our way to do anything,” he said.
“We have never really chased it. We recognise the sport needs promoting and if we are doing well, it is our job to go alongside riding and we recognise that. It is not something we view as we can boost our career by doing it. It is part of the job.”
The pair went down a storm when competing against each other in Japan recently.
“It is one of the places that everyone in racing should try to visit,” he adds. “It is an amazing country and we’d both go back in a heartbeat.”
Hollie is facing a spell on the sidelines, having broken her left elbow in a fall at Wolverhampton, so Tom is preparing to fly solo to Australia, a trip that could end up being a near three-month stay.
He rode eight winners when last in New South Wales in 2021, which included partnering the now-retired Addeybb to victory in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes for a second time.
Marquand will team up with trainer William Haggas, who will send four horses to the six-week Sydney Autumn Carnival, which features 18 Group One contests worth over £22million.
Group Two winners Dubai Honour and Purplepay will join handicappers Earl Of Tyrone and Protagonist, both owned by Melbourne Cup-winning syndicate Australian Bloodstock. He is also expected to get plenty of rides from local trainers.
However, Marquand, who has ridden 42 winners in total on his last three visits to Sydney, admits the trip, which sees him have his first rides on February 4, could be emotionally challenging.
“We know how lucky we are to get opportunities like going to Hong Kong and Japan together, because they so hard to come by,” he said.
“Hollie and I compete as individuals. It is an interesting dynamic.
“I’d be one of the most competitive people ever and Hollie would be the same – you pick up a tennis racket and you’d want to win a game of tennis, pick up a golf club, you want to win a game of golf.
“Probably because it is so volatile in the racing world with your results – one day you might ride a treble or ride a St Leger winner then go to Wolverhampton the next day for six rides and don’t ride anything better than a 0-65 horse – that is what keeps you grounded.
“Between us, because we are both experiencing each other’s ups and downs as well, it evens it out even more.
“It helps the relationship. In reality, it has been quite hard sometimes.
“It is going to happen in a couple of weeks. I am going to want to go to Australia and if Hollie wasn’t injured, she’d be riding here – and having two months away is hard.
“I know other jockeys experience it, but they get their wife to get to come over for a week or month or something, whereas we don’t really get that unless it is like Japan, where we got to go together – and that is the first time that has ever happened for more than a few days.
“So, it does make it hard in some elements. I don’t know whether she will come, but it is one of those things.
“But if we ran our respective careers off each other, it wouldn’t work, because neither of us would be successful, so you have both got to go at it as individuals. We have managed to make it work.”
When Hollie’s injury heals, the sport’s dream team will once again be pitting their wits against each other on the track, worrying about who will do the washing up and ironing later.
“We don’t rib each other. Even in pony racing, it never really came into it,” adds Marquand.
“Ultimately we both want to win, but we are fully of the idea that if you are not going to win personally, you hope it is her and she is the same.
“Obviously, she would sooner beat me than finish second but not because it is me – it is because she wants to win and I’m the same.”
The couple will continue to push each other and support each other, and that could not make racing’s marketing bods any happier. Without Frankie, the show must go on.
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2.62277356-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngDaveM2023-01-22 13:52:172023-01-22 13:52:17Marquand: Dettori retirement will leave huge void for racing
Hollie Doyle is facing a spell on the sidelines after breaking her elbow in a fall at Wolverhampton on Monday evening.
The record-breaking jockey was riding the Archie Watson-trained 4-7 favourite The Perfect Crown in a seven-furlong claimer at Dunstall Park when her mount broke down on the home bend.
While Doyle walked away from the incident, she went to see a specialist on Tuesday to determine the extent of her injury.
Her husband and fellow rider Tom Marquand confirmed on Wednesday that Doyle has broken her elbow, although it is too soon to set out a timescale for her return.
Tom: “She has broken her elbow. We don’t really know how long she will be out for as she literally only had her MRIs last night.
“It is one of those fiddly things, as you could put a number on it and you’d be wrong every time anyway.
“To be honest, it is just a case of making sure she gets it right now, because you wouldn’t want to stop halfway through the summer. It is frustrating.”
Doyle ended last year with 151 winners, finishing second to William Buick on overall totals as well as in the Flat jockeys’ championship which runs between May and October.
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Hollie Doyle is due to see a specialist in a bid to discover the extent of an arm injury she suffered in a fall at Wolverhampton on Monday.
The record-breaking jockey was riding the Archie Watson-trained 4-7 favourite The Perfect Crown in a seven-furlong claimer at Dunstall Park when her mount broke down on the home bend.
Doyle walked away from the incident, but will not take up her booked rides at Kempton this afternoon.
She said: “Dr Jerry Hill (chief medical adviser for the British Horseracing Authority) has got me in to see a specialist today to get my arm checked out, so I will know more after that.
“I can’t bend my arm at the minute and I’m trying to get into Oaksey House today hopefully to see if a physio can sort it out.”
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