Hollie Doyle proves she is the cream of the crop at Chantilly as she creates history by becoming the first female rider to win a Classic on board Nashwa at the Prix de Diane
- Hollie Doyle made history competing at the Prix de Diane on Sunday afternoon
- Doyle managed to win on board Nashwa, holding off La Parisienne at the end
- She therefore became the first female rider to win a Classic, on the 7-4 favourite
Hollie Doyle was the toast of Chantilly on Sunday as she became the first female rider to win a Classic when Nashwa landed a historic renewal of the Prix de Diane.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the 7-4 favourite was required to dig deep to hold off the fast-finishing La Parisienne and veteran rider Gerald Mosse by a narrow margin at the line.
Doyle, 25, was congratulated immediately after the race by husband Tom Marquand who finished unplaced aboard Zellie.
![Hollie Doyle (pictured top) was delighted after winning on Nashwa at the Prix de Diane](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/19/20/59267537-10932397-image-a-1_1655668576201.jpg)
Hollie Doyle (pictured top) was delighted after winning on Nashwa at the Prix de Diane
![Star jockey Doyle posed with her trophy after becoming the first female rider to win a Classic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/19/20/59267535-10932397-image-a-2_1655668647576.jpg)
Star jockey Doyle posed with her trophy after becoming the first female rider to win a Classic
Nashwa was improving on her running in the English Oaks at Epsom with a creditable third, and Sunday’s victory was achieved despite the race not going to plan.
‘She (Nashwa) is very good as things didn’t really turn out how I wanted them to today,’ said Doyle.
‘However, she has plenty of class and she responds well under pressure and was very brave. She’s a star.
‘I’m so lucky as I don’t know if I would ever have had a chance like this if Imad Alsagar (owner and breeder) hadn’t appointed me as his first jockey.
![Trainer John Gosden (above) heaped praise on Doyle after her record-breaking performance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/19/20/59267603-10932397-image-a-4_1655668783464.jpg)
Trainer John Gosden (above) heaped praise on Doyle after her record-breaking performance
‘I am very privileged to be in the position that I am in today, it’s absolutely awesome.’
Understandably, John Gosden was effusive in his praise of Doyle and the ride.
The trainer said: ‘She’s a brilliant young rider and full marks to the owner/breeder Imad Alsagar who asked me two years ago who you would pick (as a retained rider). He gave me a list of three jockeys and I and other people said, ‘Hollie Doyle’.
‘She is a wonderful professional, great personality, meticulous and incredibly hard working.’
Gosden wouldn’t be drawn on the winner’s next target: ‘Having run Nashwa in two Oaks in 16 days, a good old freshen-up is what she now needs.’