The first thing good mates Nathan Doyle and Koby Jennings have going for them is honesty, and that has been the basis of their success together for the past three years.
The two young men are forging one of the best jockey-trainer partnerships in racing. Most of that is happening away from the spotlight of Sydney, but they come to town again with Overriding at Randwick tomorrow.
Koby Jennings returns on Overriding after winning at Randwick last month.Credit: Getty
“It’s always good to have Koby riding for me because there is so much trust between us,” Doyle said. “He has ridden this filly at all three starts this prep and got the job done and knows her so well.”
Doyle and Jennings met each other in the stables a few years back when the Newcastle trainer was learning his trade as a foreman and Jennings was still an apprentice jockey.
“We just got on from the start,” Doyle remembers. “We just become really good mates, and it means we are honest with each other. Koby can say things to me that no one else can, and there is a lot of trust there.
“If he thinks one should be ridden a certain way he will tell me. He will tell me if I’m getting it wrong, and it’s probably why we have so much success.”
Jennings has ridden 47 winners for Doyle, which is more than he has had with any other trainer. That number is also nearly a quarter of Doyle’s 204 winners, and that equates to a winner every four rides for the combination.
It is a remarkable statistic given that Jennings is usually restricted to riding above 57 kilograms.
“Honesty is the big thing with us,” Jennings confirmed. “If he is getting a bit big-headed I will tell him, but we also pick each other up when things aren’t going that good. We have each others’ back.
“It is just good to have someone like Nathan there.”
The bond means that when theright horse with the right weight comes along, Doyle turns toJennings. Overriding has been that filly this preparation. She is unbeaten for the winter, and each run has been another step up from the previous run. Her latest win came when she burst through late at Randwick on June 24. Doyle owns the Star Turn filly and will look for another BOBS bonus at Randwick on the weekend.
“She is just a really good filly that we’re having a lot of fun with,” Doyle said. “With the bonuses, she has probably already bought another one for me. ”
Such was Overriding’s talent that Jennings got down to 56.5kg to ride her at her city debut but, in keeping with the honesty theme, he admits that his three rides probably haven’t been the best.
“She’s definitely versatile because I think I’ve ridden her in every position possible,” Jennings said. “I have taken off early on her, I’ve come from back on her and I’ve been held up in traffic and got a split late on her and she’s pulled it off each time. Every time Nathan raises the bar she is up to it and it is hard to know where she will end up. I don’t often get down to 56 and a half, but I did for her.”
Overriding has been made a $2.80 favourite for the benchmark 78 at Randwick as she looks to continue an unbeaten winter that could lead to better races.
“She definitely got potential to keep improving, but it is hard to know with her,” Jennings said. “She doesn’t give you much of a feel. She’s not one of those brilliant sort of horses that will get into the bridle. But she is there for you when you need it, and she will try her absolute heart out for you.”
