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He was mere inches from the perfect ride from the most imperfect drawer; beaten by an outstanding racehorse.
There is great interview on Racing UK website where he, more or less, admits he wouldn’t have done anything different.
Important to judge by taking in to account what type of horse the jockey is riding and what pace the race is expected to be run in beforehand.
Sea Of Class is a hold up horse, in all her good performances has been dropped out the back. Vast majority of horses like to be ridden a certain way and changing things can lead to a horse not giving its running. So changing for the Arc was never going to happen. Apparently trainer’s wife Maureen Haggas asked her dad Lester Piggott for advice, he told them not to change tactics and just pray she gets through. Although being at the back of a 19 runner field in a slowly run race would’ve been a disdict disadvantage – trying to quicken when those at the front are themselves quickening… However, that was an extremely unlikely scenario in this particular race. Coolmore running a couple of pacemakers in Nelson and Hunting Lion for their first and second strings Capri and Kew Gardens; both St Leger winners needing a fast run race to bring their stamina in to play. So – reading how the race was likely to take shape beforehand – being at the back of that field should not have been a disadvantage and SOC hardly well drawn to do anything else. Doyle imo did the best thing for his horse. Every punter should’ve known what they’re getting when backing SOC anyway. May not have got an absolutely perfect run through but considering how many runners there were the run was a very good one.A very good ride from Doyle.
Value Is EverythingI find it strange that this ride is causing so much chat…On the build up to the race, it was common knowledge that the main downside to Sea Of Class was her runstyle- being held up for her very dangerous turn of foot. Everyone knows it works with her, so what’s worse, sticking to the tried and trusted, or trying something different, ie, being more prominent, and finishing last? It could well have turned out that way.
Good ride.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Many contributory factors here but as we are often told by ex jockeys like Fitzgerald and Weaver, if you get beaten, especially on the best horse in the race you would try something different given another chance.
Did the right thing dropping in on the inside from that draw but should he have started his run slightly earlier? She would have won in another 100 yards. Don’t forget he nearly left it too late in the Irish Oaks when she should have won comfortably by more than a neck in the last strides.
The course was a factor, they should have a false running rail in the straight to opens things up, like is often seen in this country to help negate any possible interference which happens frequently. Don’t see why horses who receive a bad draw shouldn’t receive a possible bit of help like that.
Would a better jockey have got that bit extra out of the horse in time?
I see Mr Sycophant (Mike Cattermole) this morning is calling Doyle’s ride truly outstanding. It cannot be outstanding if you get beaten on the best horse in the race. The outstanding ride was Dettori’s on Enable, getting the absolute maximum from his horse and winning when he was not on the best horse.
Doyle was unlucky to suffer all these factors that contributed to the defeat but he was on the best horse and I would expect her to reverse the placings if they meet again next year.
This isn’t exactly a discussion for this thread Yeats, but i note you are of the belief SOC is better than Enable?
On that run, you can see why, however, don’t you factor in the fact Enable was also below par?
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!The question when it comes to questioning a ride is – could the jockey have gotten more out of his mount? I don’t think he could’ve on this occasion.
Ironically, the split second hold up that Will Buick caused her on a no-hoper was probably the difference between winning and losing, but it’s the Arc and that was to be expected with SOC.
very good ride, in a few strides more it would have been talked about as one of the best in an Arc.
Did the right thing dropping in on the inside from that draw but should he have started his run slightly earlier? She would have won in another 100 yards. Don’t forget he nearly left it too late in the Irish Oaks when she should have won comfortably by more than a neck in the last strides.
The horse was full of running after the line. I think because she has so much speed they are loath to let her go too early, were they worried about her stamina.? I said she should of gone a little bit earlier
However, I think Enable emptied sooner than Frankie was expecting, possibly due to not having a lot of racing this year and got tired perhaps but if Enable is fully on song than I can’t see Sea Of Class making up the ground from that far back. I think Enable is the better horse unless SOC can improve for another year and maybe if her running style doesn’t have a negative affect racing in midfield.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
To see her flying down the field to take on Enable just took your breath away, her neck was extended and she looked so beautiful.
It was a brilliant ride and next year the Arc will be hers.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...To be fair, he got probably as charmed a passage through the field from the position he was in when they turned in as you could possibly ask for – ideally, he would have probably wanted not to have been as far back as he was but you are hostage to fortune on a hold up horse in a 19 runner Arc.
Not sure they really went fast enough for the first half of the race as Doyle would have liked either and that is clearly bourne out by the fact that the pacemaker Nelson was only beaten 4.5L in 8th and the first 12 were covered by 6.5L
A point was made on RUK of an old quote by Richard Hughes, though I think it was about riding on AW. Hughes said that dropping right out gives you the advantage of being able to see how those in front are shaping the race and that it is easier to judge where the gaps will appear allowing you to plot your way through. The closer you sit to the pack you are denied that plotting ability as your vision is limited.
I think it’s a reasonable argument, although our only comparison could be driving on motorways, I suppose. Sitting on someone’s tail severely limits what you can see ahead of that vehicle, whereas leaving plenty space opens your vision ahead enormously.
Wouldn’t be too hard on Doyle here. Think he’s rode his race in accordance with what was agreed beforehand. But pre-race plans are open to question imo. Take the points about AOB making a decent pace for his Ledger horses and Sea Of Class’s turn of foot, but not much thought seems to have gone into the context of Sundays race; field size, amount of deadwood running, length of home straight, the tracks penchant for producing interference during the run-in etc…
Certainly these variables should have been more factored in imo, instead they’ve basically ran the horse similar to how it ran in an eight runner race on the wide expanses of York. Surely the horse had enough class/tactical pace to operate a few lengths closer to the pace given the expected conditions last Sunday.
A defeat snatched from the jaws of victory imo.
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