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| Sumita Pawar |
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There are only a handful of cases within the realm of same-sport relationships where determining the superior achiever is truly challenging. When looking at it from an all-time perspective, one could argue that Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, both tennis legends, fit this category. However, in the context of the present day, Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle have emerged as a power couple that can easily rival any other.
Doyle and Marquand, a married couple who are both successful jockeys, are gaining attention in the racing world. The next stop for both of them will be Hong Kong. Marquand, also known as "Aussie Tom," has had success in Australia, winning three of the last four Queen Elizabeth Stakes aboard Addeybb and Dubai Honour. Meanwhile, Doyle has made history as the first female jockey to win a major European Classic, riding Nashwa to victory in the French Oaks.
Despite both suffering injuries earlier this year (Marquand dislocated his shoulder at Randwick and Doyle fell at Wolverhampton), they have matched each other step-by-step, even finishing joint-second behind William Buick in the 2022 British Flat Racing Championship with exactly 91 wins each.
“We will be in rehab and recuperation together and be a right pair, so at least we’ve got two arms between us,” Marquand joked in an interview back in February.
After their injuries earlier this year, Doyle and Marquand quickly got back on track. Doyle secured her seventh and eighth career Group One wins with Bradsell at the Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and Trueshan at the Gr.1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp, both with the support of her main backer Archie Watson.
Meanwhile, Marquand's tactical front-running skills on Quickthorn at Goodwood earned him high praise. Following the end of the British season, Marquand went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita aboard Big Evs, while Doyle rode in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. They have since continued their winning streak in Japan and are now making a brief stop in Hong Kong for the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship.
“I’m sure I can probably speak for both of us to say that we’re both absolutely thrilled to have been invited back to compete in such a prestigious event,” Marquand said from Japan.
“It’s just fantastic to be competing on the world stage against some of the world’s best jockeys in a great atmosphere and we’re honoured that The Hong Kong Jockey Club have invited us back to try to take home the trophy again.”
Last year, Marquand mentioned the trophy during his appearance at the contest. This year, he was in a four-way tie for second place, while Doyle became the first female rider to win a leg on her first visit in 2020 and has also made the podium twice so far.
Marquand adds with typical understatement,“Obviously we’ve both had a good bit of luck in the competition over the last few years so hopefully we’ll have a bit more this time around.”