Cachet Causes Upset, Doyle Rides Famous Guineas Double

James Doyle became just the fifth jockey of the modern era to land both Newmarket classics in the same year when making all on Cachet  to give trainer George Boughey an incredible first group 1 win in the May 1 Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1).

Just 24 hours after laying a few ghosts to rest in the Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) when steering Coroebus  home for his employers Godolphin, Doyle returned to the Rowley Mile to bag the fillies' equivalent for the first time on the 'iron horse' Cachet.

Remarkably, the daughter of Aclaim  had given Boughey a first group win in Britain in the Nell Gwyn Stakes only 19 days before and did things the hard way by making all from stall three to hold the late thrust of her old rival Prosperous Voyage  by a neck, with Aidan O'Brien's second string Tuesday  back in third.

Never has a 16-1 winner been so lauded from the stands and also later in the winner's enclosure with the victorious 20-strong Highclere Thoroughbred-Wild Flower syndicate in raptures after a coveted first British Classic win in their colors.   

Doyle joins an illustrious list of riders including George Moore (1967), Lester Piggott (1970), Kieren Fallon (2005) and Ryan Moore (2015) to ride winners of both races in the same year.

Doyle said: "It's incredible. I'm not as emotional today after getting yesterday right and that was very enjoyable. I knew this filly from last year having ridden her to be third in the Fillies' Mile (G1) and George felt she'd got stronger over the winter.

"She was an iron horse last year and looked a picture in the paddock; she just loves this track. She's run here many times before and just eyes up the Dip and flies through it as if it's not there. We were praying for the line but thankfully it came in time.

"Fair play to George and all the team at Saffron House as it's an incredible achievement. Yesterday was pretty incredible but I was pretty hopeful coming here today as she has such great track knowledge and I kept it simple. I'll have some sort of a celebration tonight but I'm at Windsor tomorrow so we'll keep a lid on it for now."

Members of the winning syndicate who had come from as far away as Texas were in raptures, while syndicate organiser Harry Herbert was among those almost moved to tears.

"It's a dream, the ultimate dream," said Herbert. "I've dreamt of those blue silks winning a British Classic. We did it in the Irish Oaks with Petrushka and the Royal Ascot Racing Club with Motivator in the Derby but to win the 1,000 Guineas is incredible. I can't take it on board.

"She did it the hard way and is so tough, Jake Warren bought her at the breeze-up sales a year ago for 60,000 guineas and she's now won a classic. This shows that syndicates can do this and to win it for 20 lovely people. This here in the blue silks, it's off the scale."

Cachet will now head to Highclere's own stomping ground of Royal Ascot for the Coronation Stakes (G1) in June where she may encounter her old rival Inspiral , who was ruled out of the classic a week earlier.

Of his relationship with Boughey, Herbert added: "In my days with Al Shaqab when George was assistant to Hugo Palmer I was so impressed with him but I couldn't go with him in his first year as the owners didn't know who he was.

"In the end, I went second year and one of the first ones was this filly and she's now won a Classic and that in just his third year as a trainer, it's incredible. He's a terrific talent and a lovely, lovely person."

After the race, the stewards handed Doyle a two-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level. 

Ralph Beckett, trainer of runner-up Prosperous Voyage, said: “I think it was a good effort and everything went to plan through the race and we were always going to ride her positively. We just ran out of road but that is life. It was a terrific effort and she will probably go a mile and a quarter now.

“She's in the Prix Saint-Alary and that might be an option. I never felt she would get further than ten furlongs but we will see."

Aidan O'Brien finished third in Saturday's Two Thousand Guineas with Luxembourg  and Tuesday filled the same position for the trainer who had won five of the last six runnings of the One Thousand Guineas prior to Cachet's success. 

"Tuesday ran very well and we're delighted," O'Brien said. "She will go further obviously so it was a good run from her. Frankie (Dettori) was happy enough and the ground was quick but we know she will stay further and he was happy with the run.

"She has made great progress in the last couple of weeks and that is testament to her character and I couldn’t be more happier with that. It is possible (the Oaks) but she could go to an Irish One Thousand Guineas on the way." 

On last season's Cheveley Park (G1) winner Tenebrism, who was sent off favorite but finished eighth, O'Brien added: “Ryan (Moore) said it was a little bit rough early for her and that might have taken its toll on her but we will get her home and see."