Ahead of one of the biggest weekends of the year, Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle discusses all things Melbourne Cup as well as a forthcoming trip to Japan
Monday 4 November 2024 16:56, UK
It's one of the biggest weeks of our ambassador's magnificent career as she flies straight from the Breeders' Cup to Australia to ride Sea King in the Melbourne Cup, live on Sky Sports Racing.
I'm so excited to get the call up for British raider Sea King in Tuesday's Lexus Melbourne Cup in Australia, live on Sky Sports Racing at 4am. I'd been searching for a ride in the great race for a few weeks but had dismissed the possibility when his trainer Harry Eustace reached out to me.
Sea King has only been in Harry's Newmarket yard a few weeks but clinched his place in the famous race with victory in the Bendigo Cup this week, earning his trainer a first success at Group level.
Aussie rider Declan Bates, who was on board, can't do the light weight so I was delighted to step in when the invitation came my way and hope I can replicate the previous success I had for his owners on True Self in the Neom Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2021.
Sea King's Ebor form looks strong as he finished in front of Onesmoothoperator, who secured his place in the Flemington spectacular by winning the Geelong Cup last week for Brian Ellison.
This will be my second ride in the race after getting a great run round for such a long way on Future History for Harry's brother David Eustace last year. That really whetted my appetite and I'm so grateful to Harry and his owners for giving me the opportunity to go back so soon with a live chance.
After Melbourne I'll be heading out to Japan for the third consecutive year to ride on a short-term contract until December 22, rounding off what has become an exciting international year.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft.
