Hollie Doyle becomes the second female jockey in Europe to ride 1,000 winners after Goodwood double

Hollie Doyle reached the latest milestone in her distinguished career as she became only the second woman in Europe to reach more than 1,000 winners.

Hayley Turner, a pioneering female jockey, was the first to break the four-figure barrier last November. She had no doubt that Doyle would not be far behind, and so it proved after an unforgettable day at Goodwood.

Doyle, riding her first winner as a 16-year-old apprentice, started the day on 998, but Almaty’s Star was successful in the five-furlong sprint and an hour later she won jointly with Leyhaimur for David Simcock, the trainer who, with cheerful irony, also supplied Turner’s 1,000th winner.

Doyle won’t be happy with these clichés. In an October 2020 interview, she told Mail Sport that she “doesn’t withhold praise, just the negative stuff” to fuel her desire to improve. Still, the significance of the moment was not lost on her.

“When I started, I never thought I would ride so many winners,” Doyle said. “I’m really grateful for all the support I’ve had. I’m probably a nightmare to work with, but all I can think about is the next 1,000!”

She added to Racing TV: ‘I want to ride as many Group One winners as possible. That’s every jockey’s dream, but my ultimate dream is to be a champion and I know that’s very difficult. I know I want it and I know I have the work ethic, it’s just a matter of whether I’m capable or good enough.’

Many judges will tell you she is more than good enough and her CV, which includes nine Group One winners, improves every year. Last month at York she set the third of the Ebor Festival alight with a superb ride on Bradsell to win the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Bradsell, a powerful sprinter, could provide Doyle with a golden autumn as he is entered for the Group One Flying Five at the Curragh on Sunday. She also has a knack for building rapport with fast horses, having secured her first top-level victory with Glen Shiel in the QIPCO Champion Sprint.

Archie Watson trained both horses and Doyle, who is married to fellow jockey Tom Marquand, said: ‘I rode for about six years before I started, so to me it feels like an age, but statistically it’s all happened in a short space of time.

Doyle started 998 on Tuesday before driving two winners, including Leyhaimur, at Goodwood

“It feels like it’s been two minutes since I took my first ride. Archie is a huge supporter.

‘I started with David Evans, who gave me a good foundation. I went to Richard Hannon’s, where I rode my claim and got a great education and was prepared for life as a professional jockey. I moved to Archie’s and it went from there.’