A return to form by the classy filly Raiment was accompanied by a farewell to Australia by her rider James Doyle in the G3 JHB Carr Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Raiment had won impressively in stakes company two starts back at Rosehill and then disappointed at Randwick a fortnight ago when she found herself in the worst part of a heavy track.

But with Doyle charting a course well off the fence she was always comfortable in her latest run and won accordingly.

“I didn’t have enough gas to go forward early in the race, so I had to sit and suffer,” Doyle said.

“But as we came up the rise at the 300 I felt she had them covered and she did it really well in the end.

“It was a great call by the stable to run her again.”

Raiment showed no signs of stopping, scoring by 4-1/2 lengths from Invincibella with a half head to Smart Amelia in third place.

The victory added further black-type to the record of the daughter of Street Cry and trainer John O’Shea is hopeful of adding further credits in Brisbane during the Australian winter.

“She’s an exciting filly with a very bright future,” O’Shea said.

As delighted as he was with Raiment’s performance, O’Shea was disappointed to be losing Doyle who was to board a plane to the UK within hours of weighing in.

“James has been great to work with and he’s an excellent, world -class rider,” O’Shea said.

“We’d be honoured to have him back.”

Doyle joined Godolphin’s Australian team in December and proved an instant success, although his Australian stint was marred by a fall in which he suffered a hand injury that kept him out of the saddle for almost six weeks.

He leaves with 21 wins to his credit and the wide admiration and respect of fellow jockeys and trainers.

fonte : Godolphin