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Georgia Dobie flying high after 'miracle' finals day win caps amazing week

Georgia Dobie and Goring storm to success at Lingfield
Georgia Dobie and Goring storm to success at LingfieldCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Apprentice jockey Georgia Dobie would be the first to admit the last seven days have been out of the ordinary.

Dobie's week opened with a first career double at Windsor, then soared to greater heights with success on Goring for boss Eve Johnson Houghton on all-weather finals day at Lingfield.

The 20-year-old, however, is keeping her feet firmly on the ground, revealing she went for a run on Friday evening rather than celebrate her Lingfield success.

Goring flew late and wide in front of a 10,000 capacity crowd at Lingfield in the opening apprentice handicap, an outcome which had looked unlikely a few days earlier.

Goring stays on well under Georgia Dobie to win at Lingfield
Goring stays on well under Georgia Dobie to win at LingfieldCredit: Mark Cranham

"When my boss put Goring in the apprentice race she also entered him in the conditions race over a mile, and the decision hadn't been made when I rode the double at Windsor," said Dobie on Sunday.

"Then she told me she'd put him in the apprentice race and I thought 'brilliant', but then he got drawn wide and I thought my chance had gone, so it was a bit of a miracle.

"I'd ridden him before so knew he had a turn of foot, and rounding the bend I was lucky enough to be able to take a bit of a pull, knowing he'd run on strongly."

The excitement wasn't over as Dobie was later introduced to Oscar winner and keen racegoer Dame Judi Dench, before coming back down to earth.

Dobie said: "I was riding at 8st on Saturday, so when I got back from Lingfield I went for a run, rather than have a drink."

Johnson Houghton was also responsible for the second half of the Dobie double at Windsor, thanks to Kirkland Forever – the source of her first winner under rules at Brighton last October – having earlier steered Wall Of Sapphire to a head success for Hugo Palmer.

Dobie also credits Jo Hughes with giving her plenty of backing over the winter when Johnson Houghton is relatively quiet, as providing her a first race-riding experience in France when partnering Panthera Tigris at Saint-Cloud last month.

As for her targets this season, Dobie said: "I'd absolutely love to ride out my 7lb claim. It wasn’t something I was thinking about at the beginning of the year because I'd ridden only one winner.

"I just want to keep getting more rides and improving, as well as building up my contacts. As well as going into Jo's regularly, I ride out for Henry Candy on a Friday and my one ride for him at Kempton ran well.

"I ride another for him on Tuesday and he has some nice horses I’m sure he’ll want to take some weight off, so hopefully that can carry on as well."


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Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 21 April 2019inNews

Last updated 18:54, 21 April 2019

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