THE LADIES TAKE ON THE WORLD

By Darren Winningham | Wednesday, December 6, 2023

The LONGINES International Jockeys Championship (IJC) has been run since 1998 and a female jockey has yet to claim victory in this prestigious event.

Hollie Doyle came close in 2021 when she was joint runner up. This is Doyle’s fourth year at the IJC and she is hungry to post a win.

Last year Jamie Kah (representing Australia), with some luck, would have won the title, but luck did not go her way in the last race of the series.

This year there is a two-pronged attack on the IJC from the female jockeys. Hollie Doyle representing Great Britain and Rachel King representing Australia.

At the IJC press conference on Tuesday night Doyle said “I am very privileged to be invited back again. It is definitely a special place.

“Happy Valley is one of the world’s toughest tracks to ride.”

Doyle, who is married to Tom Marquand will be looking to square the ledger in wins in the IJC with her husband having shared victory in 2022.

When asked about this she said, “I will try my best, I have got some fair rides”.

Whilst saying this, sitting next to her husband, Marquand he was smiling intently.
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Meanwhile Rachel King, who has ridden several Group 1 winners across Australia, makes her debut in the IJC.

She said she was humbled to be selected to represent Australia in the 2023 IJC and added, “then to be competing against this class of jockeys is very special.”

King spoke about coming to Hong Kong for the first time and walking the Happy Valley track on Tuesday afternoon to get a look at the track. “I probably will be bugging most of these jockeys who have ridden previously here before Wednesday night.”

King also stated that in preparation for her first look at Happy Valley, she will watch plenty of replays and hopefully be able to ride some winners and win the Championship for Australia.
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Riding against eleven other world class jockeys will be no easy task for either of them ... but, then again, that applies to every jockey involved.

Doyle and King’s skill in the saddle can never be overlooked ... they are both very powerful riders who get their mounts to run for them.

I am certain that when the whips are cracking ... Doyle and King versus the likes of Purton and McDonald will be a sight to see, and if one or both of them should lift their horses to the line and get the chocolates in any of the four IJC races ... how good would that be!

Maybe it will be a historic win on Wednesday night – GO THE GIRLS!

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