Doyle revels in Classic redemption as powerhouse Coroebus eases the heartache

A race he admitted had haunted him for so long provided James Doyle with a career-defining Classic victory at Newmarket as Coroebus erased the heartache of past defeats with a sublime victory in the 2,000 Guineas.

Doyle has won two St James's Palace Stakes on champion milers Kingman and Barney Roy, yet he was beaten on both horses in the Guineas and he does not need reminding of that fact.

After Coroebus quickened away to defeat favourite and stablemate Native Trail by three-quarters of a length, an emotional Doyle laid bare exactly how hard those previous Classic defeats had hit him.

In his days as number one rider to Juddmonte, Doyle suffered defeat on 6-4 favourite Kingman when caught in the dying strides by Night Of Thunder in the 2014 Guineas after the field had split into two distinct groups, while Godolphin's Barney Roy also filled the runner-up berth to Churchill in 2017 after stumbling badly running into the Dip.

His draw in stall one had the potential to cause Doyle more Guineas grief but Coroebus could have been drawn on the neighbouring July course and still just about won, travelling with ease before unleashing a potent and decisive turn of foot to seal an emotional win for the rider.

"For once I'm actually emotional about riding a big winner today," said Doyle, 34, his voice trembling in the immediate aftermath of his first British Classic triumph.

"This race has been something that has always annoyed me, looking at replays over and over again of Kingman's Guineas and Barney Roy's Guineas and then it goes so simple the way it has today.

Coroabus and James Doyle return in triumph to the Newmarket winner's enclosureCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"Full credit to [trainer] Charlie Appleby. He's an incredible man to learn from and to work for. It's a privilege to work for him. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed – I'm just very proud to have ridden him the 2,000 Guineas winner. It's amazing to be part of what's happening at the moment."

Doyle described Coroebus as a powerhouse with speed to burn and on Saturday's evidence he looks capable of living up to Kingman, who won four Group 1s on the bounce over a mile under the rider after his Guineas defeat. Speaking to ITV, he added: "My God, he's got potential all right. The turn of foot he showed there was incredible."

After a spell as number one rider to Saeed bin Suroor, Doyle has slotted into the number two spot behind his best mate William Buick at Appleby's Moulton Paddocks and, while the second seat is not always the easiest to sit in, there was a sense that Saturday's result made it all worthwhile.

"It's been a tough couple of years," admitted Doyle, who was winning his first Group 1 in the Godolphin silks in Britain since Blue Point landed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2019.

"I've had good opportunities in the Arc on Hurricane Lane and things like that but it just hasn't worked out for whatever reason. It does frustrate you a little bit but when you do feel it [big-race success] again it's incredible.

"William Buick is a great friend of mine and I think he'll have known that this meant a lot. He took time to come up to me and said you deserved that. He sees the work we both put in in the mornings and we've been best mates and competitors for a long time now.

"He can sense that I get frustrated when I see him riding all these great horses. He's a top-class man and, while he wasn't on board this fellow today, I'm sure he will be next time."

Read these next:

Perfect day for Appleby after Coroebus overturns Native Trail

A marvellous horse, trainer and jockey make this a 2,000 Guineas to remember (Members' Club)

Derby favourite Luxembourg cut for Epsom glory after delighting Aidan O'Brien (Members' Club)

Royal Ascot target for Umm Kulthum after Listed success

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday