Breeders' Cup: Top jockey Hollie Doyle 'gutted' by wide draw for sprint star Bradsell

Hollie Doyle says she felt “gutted” when the draw came out for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday.

The top jockey makes her third appearance at the championships aiming to record her first win on top British sprinter Bradsell in the £724,000 contest.

Bradsell, winner of the King’s Stand Stakes at last year, has added two more Group 1 victories, including the Nunthorpe Stakes, in 2024 and was second in the Prix de l’Abbaye last time out.

He will have to overcome the outside post 12 to triumph in California, but he has Big Evs, ridden by Doyle’s husband Tom Marquand, alongside him in 11 and the outstanding favourite Cogburn, who starts from nine.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

“I was a bit gutted when I woke up to that news,” Doyle told the Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup show.

“Obviously you have to make the most of every situation, try to find a way around it and hopefully we will.

“Cogburn seems to be an out and out frontrunner, no matter what, so it’s not a bad thing that he’s been drawn to near enough to me and Big Evs also who has loads of gate speed. We just have to get off to the best start we can and see where we land.”

She continued: “Bradsell has had a long hard year and had some hard races. It was testing ground in Longchamp last time but I sat on him yesterday and he’s just turned inside out again. He copes with everything so well and he’s enjoying the sun.”

Del Mar is the first stop in a hectic travel schedule for Doyle who will head to straight after the Breeders’ Cup to and then fly to Japan with husband Tom.

“I’ve been searching for a ride in the Melbourne Cup for quite a few weeks,” she said. “Nothing was coming to a head so a few days ago I knocked it one the head and decided to book my flight to go straight to Japan.

“The Bendigo Cup was the last trial race. Harry Eustace texted me an hour before this race, ‘If this wins, do you fancy coming to ride him’ and I said, ‘Yes please’.

“I stayed up and watched Sea King. He was pretty dominant so I’m going to Melbourne. I hopefully fly out on Saturday night, arrive Monday morning, ride Tuesday and leave early Wednesday morning to go to Japan.

“It’s just great that Harry and the owners have reached out to me. I have had a bit of success for the owners a few years ago in Saudi Arabia in the Neom Turf Cup so it’s great that we can get back together.”