Hollie Doyle taking nothing for granted as she kicks off eight-week Hong Kong stay
The record-breaking jockey has seven rides on the card at Happy Valley on Wednesday but knows competition for mounts will be stiff
Hollie Doyle is taking nothing for granted as she kicks off a winter riding stint in Hong Kong on Wednesday. The record-breaking female jockey, Britain’s most successful female rider, ended the 2025 campaign in Britain with 96 wins - the first time since 2018 she has not reached her century.
That milestone would have been ticked off again had she not accepted an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, but the opportunity to ride for an extended period in Hong Kong was one she could not turn down. Over the next eight weeks she will compete with international stars like Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman in a jockey colony with a strong British presence.
Derby-winning rider Richard Kingscote and David Probert joined Harry Bentley and Andrea Atzeni this season but the two newcomers are still waiting to ride their first winner.
Doyle, who has spent recent winters riding in Japan, has seven mounts on the Happy Valley card. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity, obviously it’s a great honour to have been asked by the Hong Kong Jockey Club,” she said.
“The hardest thing will be getting on the right rides. We’ve seen how hard it has been for David (Probert) and Richard (Kingscote), so I do realise how hard it will be.
“I’ve been to Hong Kong a few times now and I’ve been lucky to walk away with a few winners over the last few years, so I hope that counts (for something), but I’m not taking anything for granted. Fingers crossed I can have a bit of luck.
“I’m really looking forward to no travelling for a few weeks! Obviously in England it’s relentless but being based at Sha Tin and Happy Valley, there will be hardly any travelling.
“I’m looking forward to learning the new system and sharpening up my riding. You can never stop learning, so I’m always open to doing new things.”
The Happy Valley card will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing, with Doyle’s first mount being the Frankie Lor-trained Ever Smart in the Niigata Handicap.
Her other mounts include Roman Crown – a son of Mehmas formerly trained Britain by Eve Johnson Houghton – and Run Run Smart, a horse Doyle will be familiar with having steered him to victory at Chester last year when he was trained by Adrian Keatley.
Doyle’s record at Happy Valley stands at four winners and five placings from 40 rides.