Doyle still ‘vitallly important’

Godolphin’s top brass say James Doyle remains a key player and a friend to the organisation, despite his recent demotion from the role of first-choice jockey to Saeed bin Suroor.

Godolphin chief executive and racing manager John Ferguson spoke out following newspaper reports Doyle might replace Paul Hanagan as retained jockey for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, who is the brother of Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed.

Fergsuon said: “Saeed made it clear that though [he] wasn’t automatic choice, he’d still be very much a member of that team.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with that. I totally and utterly respect Saeed’s achievements and his ability to make the right decisions.

“He will have discussed it with Sheikh Mohammed, and he will have said to Saeed ‘If you believe that is the right thing to do then you do it’.

“James is a fantastic player. He’s been signed for Godolphin to ride those horses they want him to ride and he rides for other people as well.

“We have complete faith in him as a top-class pilot and when Saeed wants to use him he will ask for him and when he wants to use someone else he will.

“We have so many horses in so many different trainers’ yards now. James will still be very busy and we’re looking forward to many more years riding for us.”

Bin Suroor reiterated his view that there had been no fallout and that the situation was he would continue to give Doyle …

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