Dubai: Godolphin jockey James Doyle signed off his Aussie stint in style on Saturday when partnering the promising filly Raiment to victory in the Group 3 Carr Stakes at Randwick.
It was only fitting that British-based Doyle, who was rushed in as a replacment for the suspended James McDonald in November, should claim his 21st victory, on his last ride for Godolphin’s Australian handler John O’Shea.
A classy daughter of the late Darley stallion Street Cry, Raiment was notching a fifth career victory and third since January in a strong renewal of the seven-furlong contest.
O’Shea’s star was bouncing back from an unexpected defeat a fortnight ago when she was sent off as the big favourite.
“I didn’t have enough gas to go forward early in the race, so I had to sit and suffer,” Doyle said on the Godolphin website.
“But as we came up the rise at the 300, I felt she had them covered and she did it really well in the end.
“It was a great call by the stable to run her again.”
Raiment’s big effort was not lost on O’Shea who commented: “She’s an exciting filly with a very bright future.”
As delighted as he was with Raiment’s performance, O’Shea was disappointed to be losing Doyle who was to board a plane to the UK within hours of weighing in.
“James has been great to work with and he’s an excellent, world -class rider.
“We’d be honoured to have him back.”
Although a hand injury cost him six weeks during the Australian stint, Doyle made a lasting impression in the Godolpin team, and the racing community in Randwick.
The Cambridge-born Doyle’s biggest win for Godolphin, since he joined the stable as a retained jockey in January 2015, came aboard Toormore in the Group 2 International Topkapi Trophy at Viliefendi in Turkey.
He is expected to have his first British rides of the season for Godolphin at Newmarket on Tuesday, April 18, where he teams up with the Charlie Appleby-trained Folkswood in the Group Earl Of Sefton Stakes, the feature race of the Craven Meeting when the flat racing season officially kicks off in Britain.
