Doyle wastes no time winning in New Zealand
Aglish jockey Joe Doyle has wasted no time in showcasing his riding talent with a dream introduction to New Zealand racing.
The 26-year-old posted a winning double at Rotorua to announce himself as another quality addition to the senior domestic riding ranks.
Doyle donned his silks for the first time last week and saluted in the opening event with Buccheri and three races later gave another polished winning display aboard Golden Kiwi.
His two Rotorua winners are from the Cambridge stable of Tim and Margaret Carter, who added further momentum to Doyle’s desire to try his luck here.
“It has been fantastic, it certainly couldn’t have gone any better,” he said.
“It was during Covid that I got it into my head to come here, but obviously everything was shut and I haven’t had the opportunity for a couple of years.
“I am friends with a girl back home who is from New Zealand, and I was chatting to her about coming over for a period of time.
“Racing back home is quite quiet going into winter and not a lot happening, flat racing wise. I spoke to her, and she said she would text a few people and Tim and Margaret got back to me straight away and were keen for me to come over.
“I can’t thank them enough for the start they have given me, they are fantastic people.”
The Kiwi connection that Doyle referred to is Samantha Finnegan, whose husband Francis has trained in New Zealand and Australia and her sister Chrissy Bambry operates a successful stable at Foxton.
Doyle has a career winning tally of more than 180 winners, including five at stakes level and is from a strong Irish racing family with his father Jim being a National Hunt jockey for years.
Joe got his apprentice’s licence when he was sixteen and was originally with Charlie Swan, before moving to England and did five seasons there, but unfortunately his weight got away from him and ended up taking a year out and went to America where he linked up in Florida with fellow Irishman Niall Brennan, a successful breeze-up (Ready to Run) consignor.