Hollie Doyle Blog: Derby Contender Wareeth Takes Center Stage

This week, I'm excited to be competing at Newmarket's Craven meeting, where I'll be riding the promising Derby hopeful Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. My standout ride for the week, Wareeth is trained by my boss Archie Watson and will be taking on a significant step up in class after his impressive 14-length win in his novice race over 1m at Newcastle last month. Although he doesn't currently hold a Derby entry, we've been thrilled with his progress since his debut, and I'm eager to see how he performs over the extra furlong, which should suit him well as the son of Sea The Stars. I had the chance to sit on him last week, and he felt great, but this second start will be a crucial test. Wareeth will face stiff competition from Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton, who has already won his maiden and finished fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and Godolphin's Poseidon's Warrior, who won over this distance at Goodwood. Both of these colts, like Wareeth, are entered in the traditional Derby trial, the Group 2 Dante at York next month. I'm also looking forward to riding Heather Main's sprinter Zoulou Chief in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday. He's had a busy winter on the All-Weather, winning at Wolverhampton and running a good race against Completely Random at Lingfield Park. Now, as a five-year-old approaching his prime, he's a few pounds higher than his best winning performance at York in 2023, but he still looks every bit a 90 horse. I've had the opportunity to ride work on Jane Chapple-Hyam's outsider Harlequin Breeze, and I believe she's worth her place in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday. Despite likely being at long odds, this tough daughter of New Bay has shown promising form, getting within a neck of William Haggas's well-regarded Zooming, and has improved with every run. I'm also set to ride Impossible Mission in the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday, who needs to prove himself on turf after making a winning handicap debut on the All-Weather at Wolverhampton in November. Meanwhile, Des Donovan's debutant Lady Fizz will take on fillies from powerful yards in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, which may be a minimum trip for her given her pedigree. On Thursday, I'll be back at Newmarket to ride Marco Botti's Shergar Cup winner Prince Of India in the Zyn Abernant Stakes. I'm expecting big things from Hawk Mountain this year, and I'll be disappointed if he doesn't make a winning return in the Group 3 Betway Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday. Another favorite of mine, Karl Burke's Boiling Point, returns to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl Of Sefton Stakes on Wednesday, and with that run under his belt, he can establish himself as a genuine Pattern performer this season.