James Doyle lands Classic double with Cachet’s victory in 1,000 Guineas

On Saturday morning, James Doyle was 18 years into his career in the saddle, much of it spent riding for the Godolphin operation, and still wondering if or when his first British Classic might arrive. By Sunday evening, he had two to his name, as a brave and impeccably-judged front-running ride on Cachet, at 16-1, saw George Boughey’s filly hold on by a neck to win the 1,000 Guineas from the 33-1 outsider Prosperous Voyage, with the well-backed Tuesday just under two lengths away in third.

Cachet was stepping up to a mile for the first time but Doyle showed no interest in riding her to get the trip, sending her straight into a lead that she never seemed likely to surrender. One by one, her rivals tried and failed to reel her in, and while Prosperous Voyage was making significant headway in the closing stages, the line was always going to arrive in time for the leader.

Doyle was clearly emotional after Coroebus’s win in Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas, but he seems to be getting used to the experience and was more matter-of-fact about this second Classic in two days.

“I really just got the chance to enjoy today,” he said. “We knew she kind of wears her heart on her sleeve and knows this track inside out, so I felt as long as we could get those cheap sectionals midway, I could be brave and let her use her stride into the Dip.

“She goes through it so well that it’s almost like she eyes it up from a way out and she really let rip through it, so it was just a case of hoping she’d hang on to the line.”

It was left to Boughey to look astonished by the outcome, as the 30-year-old trainer is in only his third full season with a licence. “I absolutely didn’t think I’d be here so soon, we had four horses two years ago and the