Top English jockey Doyle flies into Caulfield as raiders step out
It's not just European horses who are chasing Australia's rich prizemoney over the next few months: Some of the continent's top riders are trying their luck Down Under.
Godolphin-retained rider James Doyle, who has won group races in England, Ireland and France this year, is jetting in to Caulfield to partner several horses for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, who has made a huge impression with his successful Australian raids in recent years.
Doyle, who Godolphin brought to Sydney to ride for then trainer John O'Shea when James McDonald was suspended, has been booked for an Appleby-trained duo: Jungle Cat in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Folkswood in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes.
James Doyle is heading to Australia.
Photo: bradleyphotos.com.auIn a statement on the Godolphin website Appleby said: “We are fortunate to retain two world-class jockeys, who we can send to any country when required. James knows Australian racing well and he has won a Group 1 on Jungle Cat.''
Appleby said he expected Godolphin's other retained rider Will Buick - who won the Epsom Derby for the yard this year and has ridden winners at Flemington in the past - to be part of the team this spring as well.
“I expect Will to also be riding there later in the Carnival. We have a big team to run.''
Appleby's team is in red-hot form, as are his riders.
Doyle won the Group 2 Prix Niel aboard Brundtland for Godolphin at Longchamp on Sunday, and then racked up a winning treble at Kempton Park, near London on Monday night.
The trainer won a Group One race in Ireland on Sunday when Quorto took out the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes under Buick, while his filly La Pelosa, ridden by English-based Irishman Jamie Spencer won at the highest level in the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine in Canada.
Meanwhile, Robert Cram has been elevated to the position of Victoria's chairman of stewards with immediate effect, replacing the now departed Terry Bailey.
First employed by the Victoria Racing Club as a cadet stipendiary steward in 1982, Cram assumed the role of chairman of stewards in the South Western, Ballarat District and Northern District regions of Victoria while also serving as the director of the state’s apprentice jockey training program from 1991-1996.
He was elevated to the position of senior stipendiary steward in 1996 before being appointed deputy chairman of stewards, non-raceday integrity & compliance by RV in 2005.
Cram assumed the role of manager, integrity services, for two years from 2008 before returning to the position of deputy chairman of stewards in 2010, serving in that role since under Bailey.
He has been acting chairman of stewards since July.
RV executive general manager of integrity services, Jamie Stier, said: “Robert is a vastly experienced steward who possesses a tremendous wealth of knowledge and understanding of the sport, a strong rapport with industry stakeholders and the ability to lead and nurture our stewards panel.''
Cram said: ''I’m looking forward to helping each member of the panel continue to develop, while ensuring that we oversee safe, fair, clean and competitive racing for all participants across the state and for all punters betting on our racing.''
Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.