James Doyle, a renowned jockey, has achieved great success in riding Group One winners for various trainers. Interestingly, 14 of those winners have been in the royal blue colors of the Godolphin operation. His recent victory aboard Warm Heart in the Yorkshire Oaks was particularly satisfying, as it marked his first win at the highest level for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable, a major competitor for Godolphin over the past thirty years.
There was a time when the rivalry between Godolphin and Ballydoyle was more intense, especially when Frankie Dettori, Godolphin’s top jockey at the time, rode Camelot for O’Brien in the 2012 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. This signaled the end of his long association with Godolphin. However, the animosity between the two operations has diminished over the years. Doyle fondly reminisced about the epic battles between the two teams, such as the one between Fantastic Light and Galileo in the Irish Champion Stakes in 2001. Although Doyle has been riding for O’Brien for a while, he hasn’t always achieved the desired results.
Similar to Godolphin’s setup with William Buick as their top jockey, Doyle often finds himself riding O’Brien’s second-string horses. Warm Heart, who Doyle rode to victory, was not the favorite in the race, but she traveled smoothly behind her stable companion Savethelastdance, who led the race from the start. Warm Heart eventually overtook Savethelastdance and held off a late charge from Frankie Dettori on Free Wind to secure the win. Doyle attested to the toughness and fighting spirit of O’Brien’s horses, a quality that he greatly admires.
In other racing news, Highfield Princess, trained by John Quinn, is expected to be the favorite in the upcoming Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Highfield Princess has consistently performed well at York and displayed top form in her recent victory at Glorious Goodwood. Although the juvenile Big Evs is a strong contender, Highfield Princess’s success last year against a similar rival makes her the one to beat.
Additionally, Paul Hanagan, a former champion jockey, will be retiring after his ride on Wotton’sun at York. Richard Fahey’s runner has been performing exceptionally well, nearly winning at Ascot and proving to be one step ahead of the handicapper. Another race to watch is the 2.25 at York, where Quickthorn, ridden by Tom Marquand, will face a challenge due to a Group One penalty. Giavellotto appears to be a promising contender based on his previous victory in the Yorkshire Cup.
Lastly, Kylian, who showed strong resilience in the Molecomb at Goodwood, looks well-suited for the step up to six furlongs in the upcoming race at York.
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