16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Doyle tastes maiden Sha Tin success four races before husband Marquand
In town as injury cover, the star couple make an immediate impact
by Sam Agars on Sunday, February 16, 2025 7:05 PM Hollie Doyle is all smiles after saluting aboard Billionaire Secret. Photo: Kenneth Chan
Hollie Doyle held bragging rights over husband Tom Marquand for four races at Sha Tin on Sunday on an afternoon that saw the British jockeys open their accounts at the New Territories venue.
Doyle has made a habit of winning races during her regular trips to Happy Valley for the International Jockeys' Championship and it didn't take her long to make her mark at Sha Tin.
Riding at the track for the first time, Doyle struck at just her fifth attempt with a confident ride aboard Billionaire Secret in the Class Four Lotus Handicap (1,800m).
'My first day on this lovely track and they seem to be hard to peg back today, but there was a pace collapse and it played to my horse's strength,' Doyle said after Billionaire Secret rattled home from last in a race run at a rapid early pace. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 16, 2025
Marquand had ridden at Sha Tin a handful of times before but had never tasted success, with a pair of Group One placings aboard globetrotter Dubai Honour his best results until Invincible Shield's victory in Sunday's Class Three Primula Handicap (1,200m).
'It's nice to get one win in each and I have to reiterate that we're only here because of the boys' misfortune and it's pretty rubbish for them because all of us just wants everyone to get around safe,' Marquand said.
'If we can fill a gap, we're more than pleased to and we're glad we were on the call list of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.'
In town as cover for the injured Zac Purton, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun, the pair will also ride at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, while Marquand will be back to ride Divano in the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 2.
