British Jockey Hollie Doyle has expressed her desire to return to Saudi Arabia for the International Jockeys’ Challenge some time in the future and believes most riders would find it difficult to turn down the temptation of such a “prestigious” race event.
The record-breaking horse rider produced Irish trainer Willie Mullins’ True Self to defeat Channel Maker and take the grand prize of £437,956 in Saudi Arabia last weekend at the Neom Turf Cup.
The British rider broke the heart of Americans with a brilliant late run to take the top prize in Riyadh.
American horse trainer, Bill Mott, and his Channel Maker, a third-place finisher in the Thorough Breeders’ Cup Turf, appeared like he had the horse race in the kitty when he fell over at the top of straight after overtaking The Top horse, and race cards for Cheltenham have been in the works ahead of time.
The win marked another historic moment for the Sky Sports Racing ambassador, as the British Jockey became the first female horse rider to win a horse race on Saudi Cup day.
Doyle set a new race record for winners ridden in a British campaign by female riders in 2019.
Questioned if she would love to return to the Saudi event sometime in the future, Doyle said the ridiculous prize money up for grabs at the competition is what most Jockeys wouldn’t say no to.
Who doesn’t like the big pay for doing what you love?
She further stated that riding in Saudi Arabia and her victorious feat was a good experience for her and many other Jockeys. She expressed her delight to have such a good book of rides at such a glamorous horse racing event. “The competition was another massive experience that I’ve been extremely lucky enough to have,” she concluded.
Speaking on her successful outing at the event hosted in the middle east, Doyle said things have been snowballing over the last few years, as no one would have predicted correctly all that happened in her career in the last few years.
After Doyle returned from Saudi Arabia on Sunday, she began self-isolating at home but is extremely hopeful of competing in Saturday’s Winter Derby horse race at Lingfield, where she is scheduled to ride on Felix, Marco Botti’s favorite.
Before she can be fit to participate this weekend, she must take a COVID-19 test and return negative on Thursday. This is the Government’s COVID-19 protocol aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly virus in the country.
Doyle confirmed she’s down to ride on Felix if only her Coronavirus test result returns negative. Only time will tell if she will come out victorious on Saturday.
Felix only returned at Wolverhampton after a long injury lay-off and looked pretty to go.
Doyle is looking forward to burning the track with Felix, as she said she was impressed with him.
A few weeks ago the Chestnut Gelding, owned by K Sohi & Partner went down a short head at the Lingfield Park Racecoursesome weeks back.
Doyle said Felix loves it there so she’s hoping if the horse does run he’ll have a massive say in the race.
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