Doyle lands Randwick four-timer

For Godolphin’s Australian-based English rider James Doyle, four winners made Saturday’s Randwick meeting quite exceptional.

For the local team headed by trainer John O’Shea, a winning double wasn’t too bad either.

But an equally significant aspect of the day’s racing was its connection to the broader Godolphin philosophy. 

One of Doyle’s winning quartet at Randwick was Careless, a former Godolphin runner who was sold at the organisation’s 2016 reduction sale.

The buyer was Mark Newnham who a few months earlier had been named the winner of the Thoroughbred Excellence Award at the inaugural Australian Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

The award included a prize of $10,000 which Newnham, who had just taken out a trainer’s licence, used to finance the purchase of Careless who became one of the first horses to join his stable.

“To win the Award was a huge honour, but it also made a big financial difference at a time when I was just starting out. I was able to put the $10,000 toward buying Careless and now he’s come out and won a Saturday race at Randwick,” Newnham said. 

Careless won the Schweppes Handicap in a tight three-way finish and was the third winner on the day for Doyle who opened his account with the O’Shea-trained Raiment in the #theraces Handicap 

He brought up the double with Admiral Jello for trainer Kris Lees in the TAB Handicap and completed the day with victory on another O’Shea-trained Godolphin runner, Badajoz in the Tab.com.au Hcp.

Doyle, who joined the O’Shea stable in December, has now ridden 12 winners from 47 rides in Australia.

"Hopefully I’m getting the hang of it," a jubilant Doyle said.

"It's tough being the outside coming in. All these trainers have their regular riders. But a lot of the boys are up at the Magic Millions, so it's nice to get a couple of outside rides and collect on them."

O’Shea also expressed his delight at Doyle’s success.

"I'm really excited for James," he said.

"You can see his qualities as an outstanding world-class rider, he showed his skills here today."