First Female International Rider Set To Compete In The Melbourne Cup

Hollie Doyle books ride in the Melbourne Cup

UK Champion jockey Hollie Doyle is set to become the first international runner from outside of Australia and New Zealand to race in the Group One Melbourne Cup after being booked to ride a Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained import.

Doyle has been booked to ride former British galloper Future History at Flemington on November 7th and will be aiming to become just the second female rider to win the race after Michelle Payne in 2015.

Future History gained a start in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup after he won the Group 3 Bart Cummings for Maher and Eustace to gain ballot exemption for the race that stops a nation.

 

The UK import was being touted for a potential ride by UK hoop and Doyle’s husband, Tom Marquand who has raced a number of times down under however he is unable to race under the required weight.

With Marquand unable to make weight Doyle has been handed the ride after previously ridden for owner Peter Trainor and will be the first Northern Hemisphere women to ride in the race in it’s 163 year history.

“It’s very exciting,” said Doyle. “Obviously when we were on the hunt for a mount, we realised how hard it would be to get one, so it’s great that Future History has come about and that Peter Trainor and the owners have let me ride him.

“Peter Trainor has horses in training in England and Ireland and I rode him a winner this year, a two-year-old filly with Archie Watson.” She continued: “Obviously Future History has to take another step forward but he has a live chance.

The 2023 Melbourne Cup will be part of a hectic seven days for Doyle and Marquand who are racing in the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita in the lead up to the Cup as well as having a stint racing in Japan after the race that stops a nation.

"We are doing it all in seven days," she said. "But you become used to it.”

“I was hoping to get a ride in the Melbourne Cup but not expecting one, especially one as good as this. It’s a world famous race and it’s great to be involved.”

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