The 20-year-old grandson of David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, and son of trainer Adrian, will maintain his partnership with the Prix de l’Abbaye winner at Keeneland

Jack Nicholls is to make his US debut on sprint star Miss Yechance at the Breeders’ Cup next week.

The 20-year-old apprentice jockey, grandson of the late David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls and son of trainer Adrian, landed the biggest win of his career when riding the Karl Burke-trained filly to victory in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye earlier this month.

He has now won three in a row on the daughter of Cotai Glory and will get the chance to take their streak to four as he will keep the mount when she lines up in the £740,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on October 31.

By then Miss Yechance could be in new ownership as she will be offered for sale at the Keeneland Championship Sale next Wednesday before she runs, but with declarations due 48 hours earlier Nicholls hopes to stay on board.

Nicholls, who still claims 3lb, has ridden 75 career winners since making his debut in 2023 and is enjoying his best year with 46 successes.

He told Mirror Racing: “I am so grateful to get this opportunity. When I got the ride in the Abbaye, I’d only ridden her twice and she’d won both times, but it was the biggest weekend in Europe and to keep the ride when she was fancied was very surreal.

“Afterwards when I spoke to my Dad he said, ‘You’ve done your job now kid so whatever else happens, happens’. So when Karl told me she was going to the Breeders’ Cup and I was going to keep the ride it was even more surreal than Arc weekend.

“Meetings like that are where you want to be seen and to be riding a filly with a chance at such a young age, so early in my career is special.”

Nicholls spent a month in Florida last year riding track work at Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows but has yet to ride in a race.

“I’ve watched countless replays of past Turf Sprints and am aiming to go there with as much knowledge as I can but it will be a big learning curve as well,” he said.

Nicholls will also lean on the local knowledge of his jockey sister Mia who has been permanently based in the US since 2024 where she has ridden ten winners this year.

“She only lives 15 minutes away from Keeneland so I will probably spend a lot of my time with her,” he added. “She is going to be nothing but a bonus to me and will have some very useful insight.”

He continued: “I have had a quick look at the race. Bacio won at Royal Ascot and York and to take him on on home soil is going to be very difficult.

“But Miss Yechance ran a faster time when she won the handicap at York and he won the Nunthorpe and all she has seemed to do since is improve. Even coming out of the Abbaye she looks to have improved again physically.

“Comanche Brave has shown he is top class too, winning two Group 1s, but I think a lot will come down to the draw. The Americans are very fast out of the gates but if she gets drawn low she is equally as fast. She’s not one to lie down so I have a very willing partner at least.”