James Doyle, one of three jockeys retained by Godolphin – in his case as stable jockey to Saeed bin Suroor – has enjoyed a fantastic three years.
– #360view: Rewards make Dubai World Cup an unmissable date
– Dubai World Cup back on dirt in 2015 after Tapeta surface removal
– Godolphin weakened as Hunter’s Light and Sky Hunter miss out
Starting his new post with Godolphin at the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival, he has partnered 13 winners for his new employers. That was sufficient to see him finish as the Carnival’s top jockey and to help Godolphin and Bin Suroor lead the owner and jockey standings respectively and tonight he will saddle defending World Cup champion, African Story, in the main event.
In recent weeks, he has also visited Australia on two occasions to ride for Godolphin handler John O’Shea. His real breakthrough was arguably achieved here in Dubai when he partnered Prince Khaled Abdulla’s Cityscape to win the 2012 Group 1 Dubai Duty Free for trainer Roger Charlton.
Charlton had been very supportive of the jockey the previous season in Europe and the link was strengthened after Cityscape’s success. In 2013, they combined with Al Kazeem who recorded three Group One victories in Europe.
Better was yet to come for Doyle with Cityscape’s owner and breeder, Khaled Abdulla employing him as his retained jockey and they enjoyed a great 2014. He rode Kingman, trained by John Gosden, to no less than four Group One victories, while the Lady Cecil-trained Noble Mission provided him with three further victories at the highest level.
Seven Group One victories in a year clearly caught the attention of Godolphin who signed him up at the end of the season to start his new job this year.
“It was an amazing year,” said Doyle. “At the start of the season I was hopeful of a good campaign, especially with Kingman who was always a bit special. He was the best horse I had ever ridden.
“Then Noble Mission really stepped up as well and winning three Group Ones on him was a real bonus. His win in the Champion Stakes, emulating his brother Frankel, was very special for the whole team and I was delighted for the owner and Lady Cecil.
JAMES DOYLE, thinks African Story has the quality to become the first ever Emirates Dubai World Cup winner to defend his crown on Saturday.
— Racing Focus (@Racing_Focus) March 26, 2015
“I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time for Mr Charlton and then the Prince Khaled job came along. It was a brilliant job and I had plenty of nice horses to ride.
“We had horses with so many of the top trainers it made my job a lot easier. The whole team were so knowledgeable and helpful and I am indebted to them, Mr Charlton and all the other owners and trainers who supported me over the years.”
Born in Cambridge in 1988, Doyle is the son of former trainer, Jackie Doyle and his sister, Sophie, had a successful season in the UAE when based with Rod Simpson at Al Asayl. Doyle’s first ride in public was at Goodwood in June 2004, for his mother, with his first winner coming almost exactly a year later – on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.
Seven more followed in 2005, followed by 73 in 2006 – a formidable tally for an apprentice. However, two reasonable years were followed by two quieter years as the rides started to dry up.
He added: “It is never easy as a young jockey, you just need too keep plugging away, make good contacts, work hard and try your best.”
It was 2011 when the winners started to flow again, including four for Charlton after a serious injury suffered by his main jockey, Steve Drowne. Cityscape’s big Meydan victory cemented the alliance and the rest, as they say, is history.
After his stellar 2014 campaign, Godolphin came a knocking, an opportunity he could not resist. “It was a big decision obviously,” said Doyle. “I had enjoyed such a great season for The Prince and the Juddmonte team it was not a decision I could make lightly.
“Without their support and the wonderful horses I was able to ride, the Godolphin situation would probably never have occurred.
“At the end of the day though, it is Godolphin we are talking about, a truly international and increasingly global racing stable. I am still only 26 so for a young jockey it is an amazing opportunity and I am really enjoying the experience.
“I am based with Saeed bin Suroor who, over very many years, has proved himself a great trainer on the worldwide scene. It truly is an exciting new challenge and Saeed and his whole team have made me feel very welcome and I settled in to the new role very quickly.
Dubai World Cup draw 1. Prince Bishop 3. African Story 7. Long River 9. California Chrome #20thDWC pic.twitter.com/qdx2MtjwcW
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 25, 2015
“Saeed is a master of his profession and is so patient with his horses. He has a great rapport with them and seems to instinctively now if they are fit and ready to race, or perhaps in need of a break.
“I am really looking forward to World Cup night, who would not be. African Story learned a lot from his first start and was much more streetwise on Super Saturday.
“Hopefully he will be very competitive and with a relatively small field the draw should not be so much of an issue. My first Carnival in the Godolphin blue has gone very well and it is a great honour to be top jockey and help Saeed and the team head the trainers’ and owners’ charts.
“Hopefully we can finish the Dubai campaign with a winner or two on Saturday and then we have so much to look forward back in Europe and elsewhere.
“I have enjoyed my experience riding in Australia and expect I will be riding there again over the next few months. The pure fact that I have ridden in Dubai and Australia in recent weeks perfectly highlights just how global Godolphin is and their strong presence around the world.
“It is just such an exciting time for me and I am loving every minute of it. I am so grateful to HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his team for this wonderful opportunity.”
