DOYLER’S JUST DYNAMITE
GETTING Cardsharp home first in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday may prove a miracle too far for red-hot jockey James Doyle.
But you ignore a resurgent Doyle at your peril.
A 150-1 four-timer yesterday at Wolverhampton – for four different trainers – continued what he describes as ‘the best start I’ve had to a season’.
His last 14 rides have resulted in these form figures: 11211211111221.
His 2018 strike rate is 32% – and it’s not just the bread and butter races. Big successes have come on Addeybb (Lincoln and Bet365 Mile) as well as with Jungle Cat (Al Quoz Sprint) on the Dubai World Cup card, while he posted a double on the All-Weather Championship Finals Day.
“I’m finally getting the hang of it,” said ‘Doyler’ modestly.
Some shrewdies see him as a potential champion jockey this season.
Though apparently a thankless task riding 100-1 rank outsider Cardsharp for Sheikh Mohammed’s son on Saturday, Doyle may yet have a key role to play as a pacemaker.
Ryan Moore has opted to miss out on the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite for the first Classic, Gustav Klimt, in a bid to become the first European winner of the Kentucky Derby on the same day. He rides Mendelssohn for the Ballydoyle outfit.
Moore and O’Brien had a minor hiccup at Ascot when the trainer’s only runner on the card, The Irish Rover, reared in the stalls and was beaten at 1-7 in the opener.
Raiders had better fortune later when Torcedor laid down an early marker for the Ascot Gold Cup with a hardgalloping victory in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes.
Only fifth in the stayers’ showpiece at the Royal meeting last June, Jessie Harrington’s six-year-old may be an improved performer.
And remember, only Gold Cup runner-up Order Of St George prevented him from winning both the Irish Leger and the Long Distance Cup.
Yesterday, on his return to Berkshire, he kicked clear a long way from home, with Colm O’Donoghue setting a gallop that was too searching for his rivals. He won by five lengths to record Ireland’s first win in the race.
Having ticked off one of the designated ‘prep’ races, Torcedor may now be aimed at the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million – an initiative offering £1 million to the connections of any horse who then adds victory in the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup.
Straight from the horse’s mouth. “He will go to Chester if he wins at Redcar today, which he will,” said trainer Tom Dascombe, bigging up the chances of Sha La La La Lee (3.40).