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

Hollie Doyle secured the latest landmark in her outstanding career as she became just the second woman in Europe to ride 1,000 career winners.

Hayley Turner, who has been such a pioneer for female jockeys, was the first to go beyond four figures last November but she was in no doubt that Doyle would not be far behind and so it has proven following an unforgettable day at Goodwood.

Doyle, who rode her first winner as a 16-year-old apprentice, started the day on 998 but Almaty’s Star was successful in five-furlong sprint then, an hour later, she partnered Leyhaimur to victory for David Simcock, the trainer who, with happy irony, also provided Turner’s 1000th winner.

The platitudes will not sit comfortably with Doyle, who once told Mail Sport in an interview in October 2020 she ‘doesn’t remember praise, just the negative things’ to fuel her desire for improvement but, equally, the significance of the moment was not lost on her.

‘When I started, never did I imagine I’d ride this 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!’

Hollie Doyle has become only the second female jockey in Europe to ride 1,000 winners

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

Plenty of judges will tell you she is more than good enough and her CV, which is decorated with nine Group One winners, improves with every year. Last month at York, she set the third of the Ebor Festival ablaze with an outstanding ride on Bradsell to land the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Bradsell, a powerful sprinter, could give Doyle a golden autumn as he being lined up for the Group One Flying Five at The Curragh on Sunday week and she has a knack of striking up rapports with fast horses, as her first win at the top level was on Glen Shiel in the QIPCO Champion Sprint.

Archie Watson trained both those horses and Doyle, who is married to fellow jockey Tom Marquand, said: ‘I was riding for six or so years before I got going, so it feels an age for me, but statistically it has all happened in a short period of time.

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

‘It feels like two minutes ago since I had my first ride. Archie has been a huge supporter.

‘I started off with David Evans, who gave me a real good grounding. I went on to Richard Hannon’s, where I rode my claim out and I was given a great education and was prepared for life as a professional jockey. I took the step into Archie’s and it’s progressed from there.’