3 minute read

Two of the best-known jockeys, not just in Britain but globally, are married couple Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle.

Following another successful British and European flat season, the pair are currently residing in Japan before a trip to Hong Kong to take part in the International Jockey Challenge (IJC) at Happy Valley.

Married in 2022, it is hard to argue which of the two is the higher achiever. Each individual record speaks for itself.

For Tom Marquand, he has won three of the past four renewals of the ten-furlong Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in Australia aboard the William Haggas trained Addeybb (twice) and Dubai Honour.

On the other hand, Hollie Doyle achieved success becoming the first female rider to win a European Group 1 Classic aboard Nashwa in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly in 2022.

At home in Britain in 2022, they each rode ninety-one winners placing them in joint second position in the British Flat Racing Championship behind Ryan Moore.

This season has brought more success for both jockeys. In June, Doyle won the five-furlong Group 1 Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot aboard Bradsell for trainer Archie Watson and scored on Trueshan in the Group 1 Prix Cadran over Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend, displaying her versality as a rider in sprints as well as long-distance events. Meanwhile, Marquand had success at Glorious Goodwood on Quickthorn in the two-mile Group 1 Goodwood Cup and followed with a Breeders' Cup victory at Santa Anita, winning the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with Big Evs, whilst Doyle rode at Flemington in the Melbourne Cup.

They have since been reunited in Japan with both riding winners, and will travel to Hong Kong for the International Jockey Challenge (IJC) at Happy Valley on 6 December.

Marquand said: "I'm sure I can probably speak for both of us to say that we're both absolutely thrilled to have been invited back to compete in such a prestigious event."

Having successfully competed in the series last year to finish second, he went on to say:

"It's just fantastic to be competing on the world stage against some of the world's best jockeys in a great atmosphere and we're honoured that The Hong Kong Jockey Club have invited us back to try to take home the trophy again."

Doyle was the first female rider to win an IJC race in 2020. Marquand concluded by adding:

"Obviously we've both had a good bit of luck in the competition over the last few years so hopefully we'll have a bit more this time around."