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Two jockeys, from both sides of the world, will aim to become the first female winner of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship.
Hollie Doyle arrives for her fifth consecutive year in Hong Kong and has already made her mark in the competition, becoming the first female to win a leg of the Championship back in 2020.
Doyle has had another fantastic domestic season, finishing seventh in the UK jockeys' championship with 71 wins and two Group 1's, both of which came onboard Bradsell, who landed York's Nunthorpe Stakes and the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh.
Doyle, who also partnered Leyhaimur to a landmark 1000th career win at Goodwood in September, said of the return to Hong Kong: "It's an honour to be selected. The HKJC (Hong Kong Jockey Club) pick jockeys from the best around the world that they know will be competitive and serious in their attempt to win the trophy."
"Everyone is there for only one thing, and that is to win. It's such a great competition. I hope I can get my name on that trophy one day."
The 28-year-old has a great record in the competition, finishing tied third on her first appearance before going one better the next year claiming joint-second.
Doyle won't be the only female trailblazer from Britain gunning for glory in Hong Kong, with the Oxfordshire-born Rachel King, who has had an 11-year riding career in Australia, also excited by the opportunity to test herself against the world's best.
King made a bold move when joining the Bart and James Cummings partnership in Sydney before heading to Gai Waterhouse to work as a stablehand, a job that helped reignite her riding career and go on to claim the Sydney champion apprentices title in 2016/17.
Her breakthrough moment came when winning the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes on Maid Of Heaven in October of 2018. With a first top-level success under her belt, it's fair to say King hasn't looked back, adding four more Group 1's, including the prestigious G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last year to her ever-growing impressive CV.
"I enjoy these meetings," said King. "They bring a different aspect. It makes you just that little bit more competitive. You are representing your country, which means there's more pressure. But it's pressure that I enjoy."
King also heaped praise on Doyle ahead of their duel in Hong Kong: "I admire everything she's done. I couldn't do what she's done in England. I tried but I couldn't break through. She's done an incredible job for all female jockeys over there. She paved the way for them."
Both aim to become the first female International Jockey Champion, with the competition starting on Wednesday 4 December at Happy Valley.
