EXCLUSIVE: Britain’s most successful female jockey is proving a big hit since accepting an invitation to spend two months in the region
Hollie Doyle is loving life in Hong Kong and admits she is not ready to come home. Britain’s most successful female jockey snapped up an offer to join one of the most competitive jockey colonies in the world and she has made the most of it.
She has seen Richard Kingscote and David Probert struggle to make an impact since arriving in September. But Doyle hit the ground running, riding a 20-1 winner on her first day in action. She has added three more to her score since and has six more opportunities on the Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting at Sha Tin tomorrow.
READ MORE: Glengouly’s 33-1 Gold run gives rookie trainer Bramley her biggest successREAD MORE: Gavin Cromwell-trained Final Orders thwarts huge gamble on favourite at Cheltenham
“Coming here I was a bit anxious about how things would go because I’d seen Richard and David come over and have slow starts,” she says.
“It’s so competitive, the toughest jurisdiction I’ve ever ridden in, as in getting the opportunities. I’ve ridden a handful of winners and I would take that so far. It’s pretty good.”
Over recent winters Doyle has ridden in Japan alongside husband Tom Marquand, but this time the couple went their separate ways with Tom returning to Japan.
“I like the intensity of things here,” she says. “I feel like I have slotted in quite nicely. The key was getting off to a good start and putting yourself in people’s minds. Without that you can sink into a hole.
“I don’t think it matters that I’m a woman. Because it’s so tough to get into, I think people respect the fact I have got here because of my accolades and achievements as a jockey, rather than being female.”
Her contract runs out just before Christmas after which she will return to Britain to reconnect with trainer Archie Watson and build herself up for the 2026 campaign.
“I’m enjoying it here, I’m not going to lie,” says Doyle. “Do I feel ready to go back home yet? No.
“I could stay longer but I’ve got a good job in England that’s been very good to me and I’ve got to get back to the reality of things and look forward to the season ahead.”
The 29-year-old rode 96 winners at home and was unable to add to her ten Group 1 successes in 2025.
“Last season was okay numbers-wise but a bit frustrating at times,” she says. “I want to get home, get my head down and get some winners flowing.
“I didn’t have a good horse this year and losing Trueshan was horrible but it could be worse. I set the bar very high myself. For me I have quite high expectations.”
Doyle says Hong Kong has “sharpened me up” and opened her eyes to future opportunities abroad.
“I could see myself over the next few years spending more time in a different country,” she says.
“If I don’t have good horses in England then it appeals to me to be elsewhere. You need something to go back to and when you don’t have much to go back to it makes you really question.”
