Hollie Doyle wins 'incredible' first Classic on French Oaks heroine Nashwa

Sunday: Prix de Diane Longines, Chantilly

Hollie Doyle joined the exalted ranks of Classic-winning jockeys at Chantilly on Sunday, showing the strength in the saddle on Nashwa that has been a hallmark of her rise to the top.

The 25-year-old was at her brilliant best on the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly to win the Prix de Diane Longines by a short neck from La Parisienne.

It was a third top-flight victory for Doyle and the most significant success of her burgeoning career as she became the first female rider to win a European Classic that holds Group 1 status.

Nashwa had failed to truly see out the mile and a half of the Oaks at Epsom, but when owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar gave the Gosdens the green light to back up in the French equivalent over 1m2½f just 16 days later, Doyle knew she would be on the likely favourite.

Given her good draw in stall two, she would have wanted to keep the daughter of Frankel covered up before deploying her proven acceleration, although plan A relied on someone else putting some pace in the race. They did not.

"I felt very vulnerable at the two-pole, I'm not going to lie," said Doyle, who found herself front rank throughout. Nashwa first fought off the attentions of Olivier Peslier on Agave before facing a new threat in the shape of La Parisienne and the ageless Gerald Mosse.

"It was a muddling race and I expected some of the others to be a bit more excited pace-wise than they were," added Doyle. "I didn’t want to be where I was but she was very relaxed and happy to be one off the rail with a bit of company beside.

"When the second horse came to my girth she really dug deep – it was great to see."

Doyle has long since proved herself as capable on the big days as when scooting round Windsor on a Monday night, and received wide public acclaim when voted into third place in the 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

A jubilant Hollie Doyle after winning the Prix de Diane on Nashwa at Chantilly on SundayCredit: Scott Burton/Racing Post

Even with the backing of Al Sagar – whose colours will forever be associated with 2007 Derby winner Authorized – the opportunity to win a Classic comes around so rarely that the pressure is greater than in a regular Group 1.

"If you'd said to me two or three years ago I'd be riding in a Classic for Mr Gosden and Imad Al Sagar, I'd have laughed," said Doyle, who was preceded as a European Classic-winning female rider by Sibylle Vogt's victory on Novemba in the 2021 German 1,000 Guineas, which held Group 2 status.

"To win this race is incredible," said Doyle. "When you're riding at this level, the trainers have done all they can and the owners have put you in this position, so it's down to me on the day.

"I just expect a lot from myself and I don't want to let people down, so you have to prepare yourself to be at your best when given the opportunities."

Doyle added: "I have a lot of people to thank. Without Imad Al Sagar I don't know if I'd have been in the position I'm in today. These types of horses are hard to come by and I'm only 25, so it's relatively early on in my career and I feel pretty lucky."

John Gosden is always ready to think of how racing is perceived in the wider world, and he was unstinting in his praise for Doyle's poise and professionalism.

"She's very talented," he said. "Imad asked me a few years ago about having a jockey, and when he showed me the list I said, 'Hollie Doyle'.

"I said horses run for her, she's very meticulous, a fabulous rider and a very serious person with a great sense of humour.

"She's got a bundle of talent and Imad has been rewarded. This win should get on the front pages."

John Gosden, Hollie Doyle and Imad Al Sagar collect their prizes after Nashwa's successCredit: Scott Burton/Racing Post

Nashwa was also providing Gosden's son Thady with a first Classic success since having his name added to the Clarehaven licence early in 2021.

Gosden snr added playfully: "I'm very proud, as Thady is, because it's the youth team that are obviously taking over here. It's quite obvious I'll be surplus to requirements quite soon, and it'll be the youth with Hollie and Thady.

"It's very exciting. Nashwa is a very classy filly and was beautifully ridden by a hugely talented rider. You could ask for no more."

Al Sagar is certainly intent on enjoying his homebred star for a while longer.

He said: "She's not the finished article yet, she's growing, and I think she'll be a better filly as a four-year-old. I'll keep her in training."

More immediately Nashwa will be given a break, but she may not have seen the last of France for this season.

John Gosden said: "I'd have thought a freshen-up is next. We've run her in two Oaks, and it was tough on her.

"But she seemed remarkably calm after the race, she had what I call a very natural, normal blow. I'm thrilled that the owner flew her over, given the heat and the problems with customs now due to Brexit.

"One race that stands out is the Prix de l'Opera. I think if we make that our big target and then come back from there, that would be the way to play it. I think she definitely deserves a freshen-up and a summer holiday."

La Parisienne was narrowly denied for another father and son training duo in Carlos and Yann Lerner, while Rosacea ran on well to be third from a wide draw under Christophe Soumillon.

Prix de Diane Longines full result

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