'A phenomenal achievement' - Doyle joins elite club as she hits 100 winners

Hollie Doyle became the third female jockey in Britain to ride 100 winners in a calendar year and in some style on newcomer The Perfect Crown under the lights at Chelmsford on Thursday.

It was appropriate that Doyle, who joins Hayley Turner and Josephine Gordon in the exclusive 100 Club, brought up the landmark win for trainer Archie Watson, who has been her biggest supporter this year, providing her with 41 of her winners.

Doyle went on to complete a double on Lady Dancealot to move five away from equalling Gordon's all-time British record of 106 winners set in 2017.

Doyle said: "It hasn't sunk in yet - I'm a bit overawed by it all and everyone has been congratulating me and Chelmsford made a big deal of it and presented me with champagne.

"I never thought I would be able to do it - I was delighted with 50-odd winners last year. I never thought about it seriously even when I had 80 winners.

"I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported me, especially Archie as I have improved as a jockey given quality to ride and when you're riding winners, you're catching the eye."

Doyle will certainly not be resting on her laurels as she added: "It's really important to keep it going and my target now is to ride a Group winner."

Asked about trying to overhaul Gordon's record, Doyle added: "If it does happen it does but all year I've been trying to ride as many winners as I can and that is not going to change."

What is remarkable is that Doyle has been supported by over 130 trainers to make the milestone, which is testament to not only her agent Guy Jewell but also her dedication.

Her 100th winner was one of her easiest as the two-year-old debutant, a well-backed 2-1 favourite, was always up with the pace and drew away in the short straight to win by eight lengths.

Doyle, whose winners have also amassed more than £1 million in prize-money, lies 11th in the annual jockeys' standings, ahead of the likes of James Doyle, Richard Kingscote, Jason Watson and Ryan Moore.

Have another look at September's Big Read with new centurion Hollie Doyle

Her boyfriend Tom Marquand, who has ridden 122 winners this year, told Sky Sports: “I think she underestimates what an achievement it is – it is a phenomenal achievement and she could yet pass 106 [Josephine Gordon’s record] to make her the winningmost female ever.

"In my book it is down to her extremely hard work and dedication. She is not afraid to go places and ride bad horse and get a tune out of them which is the sign of a good jockey."

Jewell, who also helped Hayley Turner to become the first to 100 winners and who became Doyle's agent when she was a 7lb claimer, said: "She has never stopped improving and her work ethic is second to none.

Gorgeous Noora: winning the Hever Sprint at Lingfield in February, one of three Listed race winners for Hollie Doyle this yearCredit: Mark Cranham

"We're all out to pass 106 now and then repeat the 100 next year.

"She has had great support and a great boss and has been a pleasure to look after – she's tough, determined and a damn fine jockey."

"All the years I worked with Hayley, the £1m in prize-money was a target and we never achieved it but now Hollie joins Josie Gordon in reaching that figure in a season."

Doyle, who celebrated her 23rd birthday last month, rode out her claim two years ago when with trainer Richard Hannon.

She had been leading the apprentice title race that season when a broken collarbone in a fall after the winning post at Goodwood in June scuppered her title chances.

Doyle had already ridden 34 winners from the start of the year, beating her total of 33 the year before when she rose up the apprentice ranks.

Despite that injury, Doyle finished with 59 winners and passed 50 again last year, successfully making the difficult transition after riding out her claim.

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