Latest news with #Marquand
South China Morning Post
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.
South China Morning Post
15-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Marquand and Doyle ready to make the most of unexpected Sha Tin opportunity
Star couple excited for Hong Kong return as replacements for quartet of injured jockeys by Jay Rooney on Saturday, February 15, 2025 1:22 PM Hollie Doyle (centre) and Tom Marquand (right) will ride at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle's world tour makes another stop in Hong Kong and while the circumstances behind the late call-up weren't ideal, the star couple cannot wait for Sunday's Sha Tin meeting. The Jockey Club called on the British riders in the immediate aftermath of last Sunday's carnage at Sha Tin, with two separate falls ruling Zac Purton, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun out of action for varying periods. Marquand and Doyle will help fill the void on Sunday and at Wednesday's Happy Valley meeting before continuing their overseas travels in the Middle East. 'We're looking forward to getting back out and we're glad we got the phone call to fill the gap in the unfortunate circumstances,' said Marquand, who flies in to Hong Kong on Sunday after riding at Qatar. Marquand and Doyle are no strangers to Hong Kong – both have competed in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley multiple times and the former has ridden Dubai Honour in four Group Ones at Sha Tin. For Doyle, one of the world's leading female jockeys, Sunday's meeting will be her first opportunity to ride at Sha Tin. 'I've been really lucky, the Hong Kong Jockey Club have been great having me over for the IJC but this is the first time I'm coming over for something other than that,' Doyle said. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 4, 2024 'It's really interesting and I'm looking forward to it, for sure. [Sha Tin] looks like more of a galloping track in comparison to Happy Valley. 'We watch all the races from Hong Kong every week over here, so I've seen plenty but we'll see how it rides. I've got plenty of rides so I've got to be on the ball.' Marquand's book of seven rides includes the Caspar Fownes-trained Karma, a pickup ride from Ho in the feature of the day, the Class Two Heung Yee Kuk Cup (1,600m). Karma is a three-time course and distance winner and comes off a solid last-start third to the reopposing Sunlight Power. Armed with eight rides, Doyle also has a chance in the Heung Yee Kuk Cup in Romantic Thor, a two-time United Kingdom winner for Aidan O'Brien when known as Capulet pre-import. Now trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing, Romantic Thor ran an encouraging third to Bravehearts on his second Hong Kong start but was a disappointing 13th on his latest appearance. 'I think Romantic Thor looks interesting. He had a bad draw last time,' Doyle said. 'I've got a few in there that could have a good chance. 'Dragon Four Seas ran second last time out and could go well again. Billionaire Secret was only just beaten over 2,000m last time – hopefully they can back up, but it's just such tight-knit racing over there, you never know what can happen. 'You just need a bit of luck and things to fall your way.' Doyle has ridden four Valley winners in her IJC assaults and hopes to add to that tally on Wednesday night. 'I've got eight so far [including] two for David Hayes and one for Jamie Richards,' Doyle said. 'Obviously the Sunday rides were spares, but it's nice to see I'm getting a bit of support for Wednesday.' After the quick-fire Hong Kong trip, Marquand rides in Bahrain next Friday and the rich Saudi Cup meeting the following day, while Doyle will compete in the Diriyah International Jockeys' Challenge in Saudi Arabia on Friday.
