Newlywed couple ‘Aussie Tom’ Marquand and Hollie Doyle are enjoying their three-month stint in Japan, with more opportunities abroad in the future.
Speaking from Tokyo on Friday night, the couple have settled into their life as JRA jockeys and have found the difference in lifestyle from British to Japanese racing a significant yet welcome change.
Jockeys on the JRA circuit only ride twice a week with meetings on both Saturday and Sunday, compared to jurisdictions such as Britain and Australia where racing takes place nearly every day of the year.
“We came over knowing they race twice a week and it sounded like it was going to be a proper holiday… we ride out Wednesday and Thursday morning… Friday afternoon we’re straight to quarantine, ride Saturday and Sunday and after having 18, 19 rides over the weekend you’re pretty tired on Monday,” Marquand said.
Doyle, who rode her first winner in Japan last Sunday aboard Reveur, said the change in lifestyle had taken some time to adapt to, as had the style of racing compared to back home.
“We both thrive off being busy… the one thing I have found hard here is if you walk away at the weekend without a winner you have to wait another seven days to try again.”
“It takes a few rides to figure out… the tempo here is a lot quicker, they go a stronger pace, but they sustain it. Trainers over here are quite versatile… the trainers I’ve ridden for haven’t given me instructions and tied me down,” Doyle said.
Marquand, who had ridden eight winners in his short time in Japan, rides Daring Tact in the Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) on Sunday.
A winner of the 2020 fillies’ triple crown, Daring Tact has struggled to recapture that form but Marquand, who replaces regular jockey Kohei Matsuyama, is excited by the opportunity.
“The Japan Cup, to us, is first and foremost in your mind when you think of Japanese racing. To be honest it’s really surprising to even get a ride in a race like that on a first stint here.””She’s proven she’s a good filly winning the triple crown, she’d had excuses her past few runs… hopefully she can get back on track, if she’s in that sort of order she’s a real live chance,”Marquand said.
The couple plan to ride at Hong Kong International Race Day on Sunday December 11 before their short-term licenses expire after Arima Kinen day on December 25, with a return to Australia for Tom scheduled for the new year.
“The plan is at the moment I’ll probably head back to Sydney for a little while, probably at the end of January, February time depending on William Haggas’ plans on sending horses. That will probably dictate how long I stay for, but the plan is to definitely go,” Marquand said.
Doyle, who coincidentally is tied with Marquand for second on 91 wins in Britain this season unfortunately won’t be seen down under just yet, the leading female rider confirming she’ll be heading back to Britain in the new year.
“I think I’m in a bit of a different position to Tom, obviously William sends horses out to Australia usually and Tom’s got a connection out there whereas I’m not so it’s a bit tricky, but I hope I can get out there at some point in the next few years,” Doyle said.
“It’s really appealing. Obviously I’m loving it here in Japan but I’d love to give Australia a go at some point,” Doyle said.
The pair have a total of fourteen rides on Sunday, Doyle with four, including the Oriental Sho and the Welcome Stakes while Marquand has ten rides, ending with the Japan Cup aboard Daring Tact in Race 12.
