James Doyle is relishing getting back onboard Shaquille in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
James Doyle rode Shaquille to his first two victories of 2023 in handicap company at Newmarket in May and in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury later the same month, but due to commitments to his main employer, Godolphin, Doyle has been forced to miss the ride on Shaquille on his latest two starts in Group 1 company.
The son of Charm Spirit took the step up to the top-level in his stride with victories in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Pertemps Network July Cup at Newmarket – despite missing the break badly on both occasions.
Doyle, 35, cannot wait to get back on the Julie Camacho-trained sprinting star. He said: "I have been in touch with Steve [Brown, husband to trainer Julie Camacho] and he feels the horse is really thriving.
"I went to sit on the horse a couple of weeks ago during York and we just popped him in the stalls up on the Malton gallops. It was nice to sit on him at home because as the guys have said he is completely different at home, which is kind of hard to imagine! It was nice to actually experience that because he really is a calm and collected character in his own environment.
"On the track, he is great in the preliminaries and is really grown up in that regard. He is foot-perfect and relaxed going down to post. As we know in the stalls, he can be a bit tricky and has just bunny-hopped out the last twice.
"Thankfully, the twice I rode him he broke fairly keenly and that is something we want him to do on Saturday, although we won't know until the gates open. On the track, he's a big boisterous sprinter who knows he is quick and wants to be fast whereas at home he knows his environment and routine and is so relaxed.
"The first time I rode him at Newmarket, he popped out the gates and I had to give him a squeeze away to even do a half-speed and then the second time he jumped out upside another horse and again I had to ask him to go past horses which as we know from his races you don't have to ask too many questions in a race.
On Shaquille's recent Group 1 successes, Doyle added: "It just doesn't happen, does it? I can't think of a time when I've seen a horse miss the break by what must have been five lengths at Ascot and the same in July Cup [and won] – it just doesn't happen.
"When you have that sort of start in a sprint you are normally out of the game, so it shows what an engine he has. I thought the first time I rode him at Newmarket he had an incredible engine and the second day at Newbury he certainly improved. It was hard to predict how good he might be as he was getting things wrong and still managing to be dominant in his races."
Shaquille is a general 10/11 chance to record a third-straight Group 1 victory at Haydock on Saturday, but Doyle is wary of the challengers standing in his way.
"Going into Saturday, the weight for age is catching up with us – he got 6lbs off the older horses in the July Cup and that is now down to 2lbs, so that does tighten things up.
"I think Run To Freedom is a big price considering he wasn't far behind in the July Cup and the weight difference is smaller this time around – I could see him running a big race.
"Spycatcher is pretty solid, and Saint Lawrence seems revitalised since changing stables. Mill Stream was supplemented and won well in France recently while Ed Bethell has had an amazing season and has Regional, who is stepping up to six furlongs and wasn't far behind in the Nunthorpe – he looks a very smart horse."
Doyle, who has ridden the likes of Hello Youmzain and Blue Point to Group 1 sprint victories, admits Shaquille could be the best of the lot and added: "Shaquille certainly has the potential to be the best sprinter I have ridden but it would be foolish to say he is at this stage as it is still early in his career. I have ridden some really good sprinters, with Blue Point being the best.
"Saturday will be another test for him, and things will be harder for him – it will give us a good indication as to whether he is the best sprinter I have ridden. He is certainly heading in the right direction.
"I know how much this means to Julie and her team - you can see how much it means to them. They are nervous before he runs and elated when he wins – they show all the emotions that make this game so great. So obviously it was tough not being on his back at Ascot and Newmarket.
"I can't thank everyone enough for giving me another chance on him and entrusting me with him on Saturday."
