Sophie Doyle ready for 'huge' opportunity in Kentucky Oaks

James Doyle aims for a 30th Group 1 success aboard Skardu in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday, but on Friday the attentions of the Doyle family will be on Churchill Downs, where sister Sophie bids for a maiden top-level success in the Kentucky Oaks.

After a landmark 2018, when she rode 83 US winners, Doyle is relishing the prospect of a first ride in the famous Churchill Downs contest, which this year celebrates its 145th anniversary along with Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

Doyle, speaking from her Kentucky base on Wednesday, said: "It's been huge and a big challenge trying to get everything ready and deal with all the press this week.

"When I turned up at Churchill this morning it was absolutely crazy how many people were around. The fans, the owners, the trainers, the jockeys – they all really thrive on it, especially with the Derby coming up.

"I'm riding at Churchill all week and have picked up another ride on Oaks day, which should give me a good feel for the atmosphere and the crowd before I come out to ride in the big one."

The jockey, who moved to the US in 2013 in search of more opportunities, rides the Larry Jones-trained Street Band in the Kentucky Oaks, the pair having secured qualification with success in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks last month.

Churchill Downs: the famous venue hosts the Kentucky Oaks and Derby this weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

On the prospects of Street Band, who is available at between 20-1 and 25-1 with British and Irish bookmakers, Doyle said: "I've ridden Street Bandit on her last five starts. She won the Fair Grounds Oaks last time, which was pretty special as we knew once we crossed the line that we'd got an automatic entry into the Kentucky Oaks."

Favourite for the race is Bellafina, winner of six of her seven starts, including three Grade 1s, and who is trained by ex-Newmarket-based Simon Callaghan.

Those looking for Royal Ascot clues should pay close attention to Newspaperofrecord, who is set to make her first start of 2019 in the Group 3 Edgewood Stakes. The undefeated three-year-old won three times as a juvenile, including in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and holds an entry for the Coronation Stakes at the royal meeting.

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