James Doyle

Carrying a seven-pound penalty for his taking debut win at Newmarket last month, Wathnan Racing's Defence Minister (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Tears Of The Sun {GB}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) shrugged off the extra burden to win decisively in his six-furlong novice at Haydock on Thursday. Settled behind the leaders early by James Doyle, the 11-8 favourite surged to the front inside the final furlong for a 1 1/2-length defeat of Arabian Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The Hamad Al Jehani trainee, who was a €210,000 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up...

Making amends for his defeat in Goodwood's G3 Molecomb Stakes in July, Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) led from start to finish in Sunday's G3 Prix d'Arenberg at ParisLongchamp. Bagging the rail under James Doyle, the 9-10 favourite saw off all threats to hit the line 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), with Treasure Isle (Ire) (No Nay Never) a short neck away in third. "At Goodwood, I felt I rode him too quietly so today I wanted to...

Third in a decent novice at Sandown last month, Wathnan Racing's 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase Dunamase (Ire) (Kingman {GB}—Turret Rocks {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was off the mark at the second time of asking in the mile novice contest at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Prominent from the outset under James Doyle, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 8-11 favourite was in front approaching two out and stayed on to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Prince Of The Seas (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The winner is a full-brother to...

James Doyle has been confirmed to ride Irish Derby runner-up Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. A Group 1 winner in last season's Criterium International, David Menuisier's colt ran the best race of his three-year-old campaign when pushing Los Angeles close at the Curragh last month. With Oisin Murphy confirmed to ride the John and Thady Gosden-trained Middle Earth, Menuisier has snapped up the services of Doyle. He confirmed, "James Doyle is going to ride. He won't need...

Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) followed up an impressive debut score at Bath in May with a fifth in Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk Stakes last month and was too good for five rivals to register a career high in Friday's Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown. The £380,000 Goffs Breeze-Up graduate broke smartly from the outside gate and stalked the pace in second through halfway. Looming large at the quarter-mile marker, the 6-4 pick seized control approaching the final furlong and kept on powerfully...

Wathnan Racing's dual Classic-placed acquisition Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}--Hard Walnut {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) went postward for Saturday's G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot lumbered with a three-pound Group 3 penalty and defied that impost in game fashion to register a narrow victory in the seven-furlong test. Haatem was swiftly into stride and settled into a comfortable rhythm slipstreaming fellow Wathnan contender Native American (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in a prominent fourth from the outset. Tanking forward on the bridle to lead approaching the quarter-mile pole, the 7-2...

Wathnan Racing's Shareholder (Not This Time--Cloudy Dancer {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had only announced himself a G2 Norfolk Stakes candidate 12 days ago when winning Beverley's Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes and made light of the quick turnaround to capture the Royal Ascot prize. Held on to by James Doyle early among the group racing up the centre, the Karl Burke-trained 12-1 shot was in front passing the two-furlong pole and asserted to score by a length from Tropical Storm (GB) (Eqtidaar {Ire}), with a head back to...

Wathnan Racing struck the woodwork more than once during Tuesday's opening day of Royal Ascot and made a belated breakthrough in Wednesday's opener, the G2 Queen Mary Stakes, with £190,000 Goffs Breeze-Up acquisition and once-raced Nottingham maiden winner Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}--Kassandra {Ire}, by Dandy Man {Ire}). The Karl Burke trainee broke smartly and raced to the fore in the smaller far-side group throughout the five-furlong dash. Shaken up to gain an overall advantage soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, the 22-1 chance refused to buckle once in front...

Wednesday saw the draw made for Friday's two group 1 contests at Royal Ascot, with the 10 fillies set to contest the Coronation S. headed by Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer (Justify) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Opera Singer, who was returning from a setback when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, has drawn an outside stall in nine for the mile feature while the Roger Varian-trained Newmarket Classic heroine is in seven. James Doyle takes over from Silvestre De...

Debuting in Saturday's Two Year Old Trophy at Beverley, Wathnan Racing's €460,000 Arqana May Breeze Up purchase Shareholder (Not This Time) made the perfect start to point to Royal Ascot's juvenile features. Slowly away under James Doyle, the Karl Burke-trained 6-4 favourite quickly recovered to track his four rivals racing a touch freely without cover. Delivered to take a narrow lead approaching the furlong pole, he belied inexperience to hold the previous winner Moving Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and score by a short head. "He was a little tardily away...

Great Yarmouth's £40,000 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' S., which witnessed a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the extended five-furlong dash last year, played host to another as Cheveley Park Stud's homebred 2-year-old filly Spherical (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}--Spatial {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) powered to an impressive success in this year's renewal. In winning, she provided her second-crop sire with a third Rising Star in five days. Spherical, debuting in a field reduced by half to just three contenders, stalked both rivals in third through halfway. Easing into...

The G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot has been put forward as the main objective for King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by his trainer Roger Varian.  Last year's G1 Champion S. hero thrived at the Berkshire venue during his three-year-old campaign, with both of his victories coming at the track. He followed up his brave second to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Derby by winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at the royal meeting and, although having to settle for third in the...