HOLLIE DAY CELEBRATIONS
Doyle makes history with first Classic triumph
HOLLIE DOYLE again broke new ground when she became the first British female jockey to win a Classic by riding Nashwa to a thrilling victory in the French Oaks at Chantilly yesterday.
Doyle, 25, had become the first woman to be placed in a British Classic when she came third on the John and Thady Gosdentrained filly in the Oaks at Epsom earlier in the month.
And just 16 days later she powered the 7-4 favourite home to hold off La Parisienne by a short neck in the French equivalent – the Prix de Diane, which was first run in 1843. “I was pretty confident after Epsom, but I feel so privileged,” she said.
“I’ve got a lot of people to thank. Without Imad Al Sagar (owner) I don’t know if I would ever have been in the position to get an opportunity like this.
“These types of horses are hard to come upon, so I feel pretty lucky.” A smart start from her low draw meant Nashwa was soon prominent and she travelled smoothly into the home straight alongside the well-fancied Agave.
After seeing her off, 50-1 shot La Parisienne powered home to throw down a late challenge, but Nashwa and Doyle knuckled down to pass the post narrowly in front.
“I felt very vulnerable at the two-furlong pole, I’m not going to lie,” added Doyle. “But when the second horse came to my girths my filly really dug deep.
“If you’d said to me three years ago that I would be riding in a Classic for Mr Gosden I’d have laughed.”
Gosden was full of praise for Doyle, saying: “She’s hugely talented. Nashwa is a class filly who was beautifully ridden.”