Hi Hollie, please could you give us one horse to follow this season? (Peter Webb)
My boss Archie Watson has had a few two-year-old runners and a filly that won for us at Thirsk on debut is definitely one to follow. A £40,000 yearling by Cotai Glory out of a Mehmas mare, Niewiadoma displayed the speed her pedigree suggested, and I think there is plenty more to come from her. She’s a half-sister to Group 2 winner Liberty Beach and will hopefully make up into a Royal Ascot contender.
Which first-season sire's crop are you most looking forward to seeing this year? (Matthew Alexander)
I’ve heard so many glowing reviews from people in the know about Minzaal, a son of Mehmas who won the Gimcrack at two and the Group 1 Sprint Cup and the Hackwood Stakes for Owen Burrows and Shadwell at four. I understand he has well over 100 two-year-olds to run, which is pretty impressive in his first year, and it looks like he’s produced some precocious types, so it will be exciting to see how they go on the track.
What's your favourite thing about riding overseas and how does racing overseas differ to racing in the UK? (Steve Murphy)
The style of racing in every country is different, and I just love competing against the top international riders. Japan has galloping tracks, for example, while in Hong Kong the tracks are much tighter with shorter straights. However, there’s nowhere in the world like Britain and Ireland. Almost every racecourse presents a unique challenge and as a jockey you are constantly adapting to them on a daily basis, which is more demanding than anywhere else in the world.
Which race would you most like to win this season? (William Knell)
I’ve been so lucky over the last few years having had opportunities internationally to ride in some of the world’s most prestigious races, including Japan and Melbourne Cups, but I haven’t had the chance to ride in Britain’s greatest race, the Derby. It’s a race that any jockey would say they’d like to win, but just having a ride in it would be a starting point!
What is your favourite racetrack and why? (Robert McGee)
My favourite track would have to be Ascot, as it’s such a fair track and it hosts some of Britain’s most iconic races. I’ve also had some of my most memorable days there with the likes of Glen Shiel, Bradsell and Trueshan. It’s not a track that is dependent on being ridden in a certain way, so I often feel that jockeys can use their own initiative rather than having to ride to a track bias. The ground is always in great condition, too.
Hi Hollie, during the flat season, we often see a draw bias impacting results. How do you feel about this affecting your chances in a race and how do you overcome it? (Christina Blight)
I suppose it is inevitable that in Britain, especially on the turf and with our unique tracks, we have draw biases. At somewhere such as Chester, it is obvious that a low draw is a huge benefit as you are constantly on the turn, but at tracks like Epsom (straight track) and maybe Ripon, the ground bias up the stand side is a huge plus, so you often see jockeys making an early move towards the rail.
It is always frustrating when you are presented with what could be a ‘bad draw’, but as jockeys that is our job to try and overcome it. It can be frustrating when there are biases that probably shouldn’t exist, for example at Newcastle. It is an artificial surface there, but for some reason you are always wanting a higher draw on the straight track. Sometimes I believe it is more to do with how races develop and where pace angles are rather than a better draw or the ground.
Although it’s early in the season, of the races you have ridden in so far, which has felt like the strongest piece of form and might pay to follow this season? (Lawrence Worth)
Although it was a small field and I didn’t win the race, I feel that the three-year-old-only conditions race at Newmarket on 14th April rode like a strong race. I think the first three home are definitely worth following this season, especially the second Lost Signal - a Lucky Vega colt from the Richard Hannon stable.
What type of two-year-old do you prefer, a sprinter or a middle-distance horse? (Mrs Jinky Watt)
Over the years I have been associated with some very good two-year-olds, for example the likes of Bradsell, Army Ethos, Eddie’s Boy and Aesterius - all trained by Archie Watson. They were all very good sprinters. I do love working with the juveniles and trying to get a gauge on them, but on the other hand there is nothing better than a nice two-year-old staying type turning up at the back end of the season and keeping the dream alive!
Now the trials are done and the first classics are fast approaching, who do you think will win the 2000 and 1000 Guineas? (Ahmed Suliman)
1000 Guineas
I really like Venetian Sun, who goes straight to the Guineas without a trial, but Karl Burke reported he has taken her for a racecourse gallop at Southwell and was very happy. Obviously the trip is a bit of a question mark, but we all know how much natural speed you need in a Guineas on a track like Newmarket, which she has experience on. She was actually one of the first off the bridle in the Moyglare over the stiff 7f at the Curragh, but she rallied towards the line late behind Precise and Beautify. Hopefully being a year older and physically a bit stronger, the extra furlong won’t be an issue.
Similarly, True Love had a bit to prove up in distance, having shown plenty of speed last season over 5f and 6f, but her dam Alluringly had no problem in staying up to 12f. She proved her doubters wrong in what was a dominant display at Leopardstown.
2000 Guineas
For me, Puerto Rico brings the best form to the table. He took five runs to get his head in front but did so in the Champagne Stakes, with the likes of Oxagon and Gewan in behind him. He also won those two Group 1s at the back end of the season in France on softer ground, so he is definitely street-wise enough and is a proven stayer.
Hi Hollie, please can you nominate a handicapper you think is ahead of his or her mark or an unlucky loser we should be adding to our tracker? (Lewis Reed)
I think Andrew Balding’s Double Rush was an eye-catching winner at Newmarket recently. He started handicapping last season off 77 and won off 90 on seasonal debut, though he has now been put up 13lb to 103. He may have one more chance in a handicap off that mark, but he could be a stakes horse and may even be one to keep an eye on in the sprinting division later this season.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.
