Monday brought the surprising news that leading owner Imad Al Sagar had dispensed with the services of Hollie Doyle as his retained rider. This move brings an end to a five-year relationship between the Classic-winning owner and the most successful female rider in the history of British racing.
Four-time British Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy is the jockey selected to step into Doyle’s shoes. Despite being in the news for all the wrong reasons in 2025, he continues to excel at the track, with this appointment serving as the latest endorsement of his undoubted talent. The 29-year-old is now the retained rider to Imad Al Sagar, Qatar Racing, and Prince Faisal.
The End of a Successful Relationship
Hollie Doyle earned the role as Al Sagar’s retained rider in 2020, following a spectacular 119-winner 2019 campaign. Doyle didn’t have to wait long for her first big race success for Al Sagar, which came aboard the Roger Charlton-trained Extra Elusive in the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on 8 August 2020.
Doyle and Elusive Quality teamed up for further Group 3 success 21 days after that Haydock victory in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor. That Saturday afternoon card marked the most spectacular performance of Doyle’s career to date, as she racked up a remarkable five-timer at the Berkshire venue.
Doyle added a win in the Listed Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes to her CV for Al Sagar in 2021. Then, 2022 saw the arrival of the horse that took Doyle to the Classic winner’s enclosure.
Nashwa Scales Group 1 Heights
Sired by the mighty Frankel, the John & Thady Gosden-trained Nashwa ran in the Al Sagar silks 18 times during her career. Hollie Doyle was in the saddle on all 18 occasions, with considerable success.
Nashwa’s Race Record with Hollie Doyle
| Date | Race | Course | SP | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/10/21 | Fillies’ Novice Stakes | Newmarket | 85/40F | 3rd |
| 23/4/22 | Fillies’ Novice Stakes | Haydock | 13/8F | Winner |
| 14/5/22 | Haras De Bouquetot Trial | Newbury | 5/6F | Winner |
| 3/6/22 | Epsom Oaks | Epsom | 4/1 | 3rd |
| 19/6/22 | Prix de Diane | Chantilly | 3/1F | Winner |
| 28/7/22 | Nassau Stakes | Goodwood | 6/5F | Winner |
| 2/10/22 | Prix de l’Opera | Longchamp | 6/4F | 2nd |
| 5/11/22 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf | Keeneland | 13/5F | 4th |
| 28/5/23 | Prix Corrida | Saint-Cloud | 4/5F | 4th |
| 30/6/23 | Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes | Newcastle | 8/11F | 2nd |
| 14/7/23 | Falmouth Stakes | Newmarket | 4/1 | Winner |
| 3/8/23 | Nassau Stakes | Goodwood | 11/4 | 3rd |
| 23/8/23 | Juddmonte International Stakes | York | 13/2 | 2nd |
| 9/9/23 | Irish Champion Stakes | Leopardstown | 9/2 | 3rd |
| 21/10/23 | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Ascot | 5/1 | 6th |
| 30/3/24 | Dubai Turf | Meydan | 7/1 | 9th |
| 5/10/24 | Sun Chariot Stakes | Newmarket | 5/1 | 5th |
| 19/10/24 | Champion Stakes | Ascot | 40/1 | 11th |
Raced only once as a juvenile, Nashwa showed promise when third at Newmarket before exploding onto the scene in her Classic campaign. Five outings at three produced four victories, with the only defeat being a gallant third behind Tuesday and Emily Upjohn in the Epsom Oaks.
The clear pick of those victories came on 19 June 2022 at Chantilly, as Doyle and Nashwa held on by a short neck to claim the French Classic of the Prix de Diane. Showing that effort was no fluke, the filly followed up with an impressive win in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Nashwa would never match the consistency of that three-year-old season but added a further top-level triumph in the 2023 Falmouth Stakes.
An Amicable Split
All told, Doyle rode 38 winners for Imad Al Sagar during her five-year spell as retained rider. While the reason for the change remains a little vague, there doesn’t appear to be any ill will from either party. When announcing the news, Imad Al Sagar’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, stated:
“It’s a change of strategy. We’ve had some wonderful years with Hollie, and Imad wanted to have a bit of a change. Our relationship with her is still strong, and I hope it will continue to be so.”
Doyle expressed her surprise at the news and its timing, but was similarly positive regarding her former employer, saying:
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for Imad and would like to thank him for giving me such an amazing opportunity at a formative stage of my career. I wish him and the team the very best of luck in the future.”
Much to Look Forward to for Murphy
As is always the case in a change in riding arrangements, one jockey’s loss is another’s gain. Oisin Murphy has certainly started on the right foot with Al Sagar, with his first ride in the retained role seeing him partner Gamrai to victory at Windsor on Monday, 18 August.
Following that low-key success, Murphy and Al Sagar raise their sights for the York Ebor Festival, which kicks off on Wednesday, 20 August. Zghartha is well-fancied to go well in the Fillies’ Handicap on Friday. However, May Angel is the most interesting of the Al Sagar entries on the Knavesmire. An impressive winner at Southwell in July, she lines up in the Acomb Stakes on the opening day, ahead of a possible tilt at the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
