Doyle at the double to justify reputation

Both horses are now leading contenders for next year’s 1000 and 2000 Guineas respectively, but even more significant was the confident and polished manner in which the 25-year-old conducted himself after a whirlwind 72 hours following his surprise appointment as Abdullah’s retained rider last Thursday.

Although Doyle enjoyed a famous success on the Dubai World Cup card 18 months ago on Abdullah’s Cityscape, it is his three Group One wins this summer on Al Kazeem which have taken his career to a new level this summer, despite the horse’s reverse on unsuitably fast ground at York.

Some continue to question the Prince’s wisdom when a horse like Kingman is trained by John Gosden whose stable jockey William Buick, one of Doyle’s best friends, has won more Group One races than any other British-based rider since 2010.

Yet the growing preference of the leading owners and breeders, like Abdullabh’s Juddmonte operation, is to employ their own riders and Doyle’s response to Kingman’s win in Sandown’s Solario Stakes on Saturday spoke volumes about his mindset after he considered quitting the sport two years ago because he did not want to gain a reputation as ‘a journeyman jockey’.

“I don’t think relief is the right word, I’m happy, he was good,” said Doyle who, typically, wanted to accentuate the horse’s potential. “He had a big reputation but he did it nicely. It was a bit of a messy race as we didn’t go fast at all and I was almost breaking his stride early on so I let him lengthen in the straight.”

Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, the York Racecourse chairman, nominated Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes as a probable target, though Kingman does still hold an entry in Doncaster’s Racing Post Trophy.

As for Doyle’s recruitment, Grimthorpe offered this explanation: “Prince Khalid is looking to the future with a very promising young rider.”

It is a decision which looks even shrewder after Rizeena came off a strong pace to take Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh over seven furlongs yesterday.

This is the horse which was the final leg of Doyle’s 891-1 treble on day two of Royal Ascot and the Queen Mary Stakes winner finished fastest of all as the rider demonstrated his tactical acumen.

Veteran trainer Clive Brittain’s filly swept past Kiyoshi and Tapestry who were involved in a barging match from some way out, and which necessitated a lengthy stewards’ inquiry before the latter was promoted to second.

Brittain, 78, compared Rizeena to the likes of User Friendly who won the 1992 Oaks and St Leger under Yorkshire riding great George Duffield. “I’ve trained some good fillies with Sayyedati, User Friendly and Pebbles, of course, and she may not be that far behind them,” he said. “I knew they’d go a good pace and credit to them, there were some good fillies in the race, but we were exceptionally good.”

As for Doyle, his next big assignment will be at Doncaster on Saturday week when he will partner the Abdullah-owned and Gosden-trained Excess Knowledge in the Ladbrokes St Leger. The three-year-old is already ante-post favourite to give the jockey his first Classic win.

Malton trainer Tim Etherington’s patience paid off when Burning Thread prevailed on the Sandown undercard after a fine Adam Beschizza ride.

Etherington helped load his charge into the starting stalls and was rewarded with a two-length win. Doncaster’s Portland Handicap on St Leger day is a possibility.

There was a thrilling finish to the Atalanta Stakes when another Malton raider Ladys First, trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Tony Hamilton, dead-heated with Sir Michael Stoute’s Integral.

Leyburn’s Karl Burke enjoyed his first pattern race success since returning as a licensed trainer when Odeliz won at Longchamp yesterday under Danny Tudhope.

Destiny depends on fast ground for star Borderlescott

FAST ground will determine veteran sprint star Borderlescott’s future plans following his brave third in the Beverley Bullet after coming out of retirement.

Robin Bastiman’s 11-year-old – a late withdrawal from York’s Nunthorpe after overnight rain – briefly headed the field before Stepper Point prevailed from Kevin Ryan’s late burst on York Glory who did not enjoy a clear passage after Jamie Spencer opted to bide his time.

The top jockey’s now notorious hold-up tactics should not detract from the brilliance of Borderlescott who won this race last year – and who had failed to land a significant blow on his first three runs since being brought out of retirement.

“He’s been out in the paddock and eaten up. He’s just a star, the old horse. He has such a big heart,” said Wetherby-based Bastiman. “I think that fast ground is the key to him now. There is a Listed race at Doncaster, but that’s only 10 days away and will probably come too quick.

“He’s in the Ayr Gold Cup, but I think I’d probably rather run in the Group Three at Newbury on the same day. There is a conditions race back at Beverley on September 24. It’s a shame there aren’t any veterans’ races on the Flat, but I suppose not many horses go as long as him.”

That said, Borderlescott’s performance overshadowed a fine winning ride by Martin Dwyer on Stepper Point for his father-in-law William Muir – the former Derby-winning jockey will hear shortly if racing’s rulers are to uphold an eight-month ban imposed controversially by stewards in India.

No jockey has a better strike-rate at present than Pontefract-born apprentice Jacob Butterfield who prospered at Beverley on Bronze Beau for the equally in-form trainer Kristin Stubbs.

Twenty-year-old Butterfield, who lives in York, was recording his sixth winner from 12 rides in the past week, and showed tactical maturity beyond his years by dictating terms from the front.

Though he is stable jockey at the Norton yard of Ollie Pears, five of his wins were supplied by Stubbs who trains at the neighbouring yard and who took out her trainer’s licence earlier this year.

Skipton-born William Haggas could target Sun Central at the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot after his win at Chester on Saturday.

Good ground is the key to Sun Central who was withdrawn from the Ebor when York was hit by heavy rain. This victory was bittersweet; stablemate Guarantee, suffered a career-ending tendon injury and is now fighting for his life.

Edmond Linehan, a young jump jockey who came to prominence with Ferdy Murphy, is the new conditional at Colin Tizzard’s Westcountry stable. He takes up the role today following a stint with champion trainer Nicky Henderson where rides were few and far between.