13 October 2023 , 14:11
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Hollie Doyle is to make her debut in Australia’s biggest horse race after securing a mount in the £7.2 million Melbourne Cup.
The record-breaking rider has been handed a golden opportunity in the so-called ‘race that stops a nation’ at Flemington on November 7 on ex-European horse Future History. Only one female rider has ever won the 2m handicap, Michellie Payne making history on 100-1 chance Prince Of Penzance in 2015.
Doyle, 26, will be the first female jockey from outside Australia or New Zealand to ride in the race in its 163-year history. Future History, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, secured his place in the field with victory in the Group 3 Bart Cummings last Saturday.
The mount became available because five-year-old has a handicap weight of 7st 12lb. Doyle's husband Tom Marquand, who has the bigger profile in Australia, has yet to pick up a mount in the race.
“It’s very exciting,” said Doyle. “Obviously when we were on the hunt for a mount, we realised how hard it would be to get one, so it’s great that Future History has come about and that Peter Trainor and the owners have let me ride him.
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“Peter Trainor has horses in training in England and Ireland and I rode him a winner this year, a two-year-old filly with Archie Watson.” She continued: “Obviously Future History has to take another step forward but he has a live chance.”
The Melbourne Cup will be the middle stop of a hectic international schedule for Doyle and Marquand with both due to ride at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, California just three days earlier.
Doyle is set to partner Royal Ascot winner Bradsell in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and Marquand has the mount on Big Evs in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Four days after the Melbourne Cup they will be in Japan to start a short winter stint in the far east. "We are doing it all in seven days," she said. "But you become used to it.
“I was hoping to get a ride in the Melbourne Cup but not expecting one, especially one as good as this. It’s a world famous race and it’s great to be involved.”