Oisin Murphy: A Classic weekend for the 2000 and 1000 Guineas
Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy won the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Kameko on Saturday - check out his thoughts on his 1000 Guineas ride Millisle here!
We’re back racing, but not as we know it. It’s obviously very different, the protocols are extreme and are so for a reason, it’s clearly needed, and anything we need to do to make sure racing goes ahead has to be done.
We’ve been getting text messages from the PJA about what’s expected of us and everything, so far, seems to be going smoothly. Long may that continue.
As for the first few days back, it was nice to get on the scoresheet on the first day with Alignak for Sir Michael Stoute. I’ve won on him before and he’s a nice horse. I think he’s going to be a nice stayer going forward.
Frustratingly I’ve had seven seconds since resumption, but I can’t complain too much as I managed to ride a double at Newmarket on Thursday thanks to Bright Devil and Inclyne, which was further evidence of the great form Andrew Balding’s horses are in.
Hopefully that continues, as it’s a big weekend!
Newmarket Sunday rides
I have another great chance of recording a Classic success with Millisle in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.
She’s in really good shape and the vibes from Jessica Harrington are good, she says she hasn’t missed a beat with her and obviously she has some very good three-year-old fillies in the yard.
I was delighted to get the call up, it’s a huge opportunity for me, it’s the stuff you dream of getting a spare ride in a Classic like this.
I’ve never ridden for Jessie before, but I’ve known her daughter, Kate, since I was a kid, we were both at Ballydoyle together, so I’d say that had a lot to do with getting the ride.
Run Wild runs in the Pretty Polly Stakes and we’ve been happy with her at home.
Her work’s been good, Rab Havlin’s been riding her and he says she’s been relaxing well. She should’ve won the Park Hill last year up at Doncaster, I messed up on her and James Doyle stole the race, riding us all to sleep.
She’s a big, strong, filly and I really like her.
Dashing Willoughby’s a light-framed horse and I have no doubt he’ll handle the ground despite the fact he’s got very good form on softer conditions.
He runs over a mile and a half in the Listed Buckhounds Stakes and we all know how good he is given that he won at Royal Ascot. He’s a staying-type horse, so the one question mark is the trip, it might well be too sharp for him, but it’s a good starting point.
In the opening maiden I ride Future Vision for Saeed bin Suroor, he’s a colt by Dark Angel and a half-brother to Teofilo so hopefully he’ll go well.
Good Birthday’s in very good form ahead of the Betfair Exchange Bet In-Play Handicap. He worked on the Downs last Saturday and we’re really happy with him.
He’s been gelded and I’d say a mark of 98 is fair.
Bell Rock goes in the Setting Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap and he’s a son of Kingman that has been going well enough at home.
Everyone’s been happy with him, but remember he won first time out last year and then was really disappointing afterwards, he’s another that’s been gelded. We’ll see where we are with him on the track.
I ride a newcomer in Eagles Crag for Ed Walker in division one of the Betfair Exchange More Ways To Win EBF Stallions Novice Stakes and in division two I’m on Boss Power for Sir Michael Stoute, he’s a son of Frankel that’s had one run at Yarmouth.
I don’t know an awful lot about those two but Bronze River I know well. He runs in the Betfair Weighed In Podcast Handicap and he was a slow-maturing horse, a sleeper early on, but he’s really come alive in the last couple of weeks.
His work has been sharp and we’re really happy with him.
Finally Daschas runs in the Betfair Each Way Edge Handicap and he’s a tough old sprinter. He’s straightforward and I’ve ridden him a few times before, including first time out at Ascot last season where he ran really well.
He’s a bit higher in the weights now, but hopefully he can put up another good show.
Newmarket Saturday rides
It’s a big day Saturday as I attempt to win my first Classic aboard Kameko in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
I’m excited, obviously, and he seems in great shape. His work has been good and he’s ready to go. I’m not concerned about stall 15 for him, there are some good ones near me, Arizona is in 13, and it shouldn’t be an issue.
We’ve been working him at home without making life too hard for him, not pressing loads of buttons, as hopefully he’ll be in action all season long now.
I believe in him. He’s a genuine Group One horse and a mile at Newmarket is where he starts but who knows where he’ll end up? I’m looking forward to the whole year with him.
Punctuation runs for the Queen in the Betfair Exchange Free Bet Streak Newmarket Stakes and he’s a big, raw, horse. The ground will probably be fast enough for him.
I really like him, but this is a competitive race and likely a stepping stone for something further down the line.
Paul Midgley’s very good to me, he always puts me on good chances, and I’d say Tarboosh will be primed and ready for the Group Three Palace House Stakes on Saturday.
I rode one for Paul at Newcastle the other day and he was in great shape, Indian Sounds, so I suspect it will be the same with this fellow.
Alemaratalyoum runs in the Betfair Racing Only Bettor Podcast Handicap over seven furlongs and Stuart Williams is good to me as everyone knows – we have a great strike-rate together [32 wins at 17 per cent].
He’s by Lope De Vega, so you might think the ground will be a touch fast for him, but he takes his racing well, I remember him winning at Goodwood last year the day after running at Chelmsford.
So there are a few things to bear in mind with him, but whenever Stuart puts me on one it has a good chance.
Nate The Great is a small but very tough horse and he runs in the Trade On the Betfair Exchange Handicap.
I don’t really know where we are with him as I’ve not ridden him at home, but I don’t think he’s missed any work and Andrew’s horses are obviously in terrific form.
Lingfield Friday rides
On Friday I head to Lingfield as I ride a couple of horses in the Classic trials and I actually have a ride in each of the nine races on the card, so it’s a busy day.
In the Betsafe Derby Trial I’m on Berkshire Rocco for Andrew and he’s a lovely horse. He’s been going well at home and this is a nice starting point for him.
The ground is going to be quick on the turf track but that will be no hassle to him. He’s run well on good to firm ground before and though he’s by Sir Percy, whose progeny appreciate a bit of cut, I think this fellow will be fine.
I’m on Heart Reef for Ralph Beckett in the Betsafe Top Price All Runners Oaks Trial, a race he has a great record in.
She was a bit disappointing at Newmarket last time but she was in a long time and I think we can forgive her that.
She’s not the biggest of fillies but she’s got a great attitude and we’re looking forward to starting her. The ultimate goal with Heart Reef will be to get black type and anything after that is brilliant.
Coco Bear, a Kodi Bear colt, has been going well at home for Eve Johnson Houghton ahead of the Betsafe Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Auction Stakes (Div I).
We don’t know where we are at the moment, where horses stand, and these races are so competitive, but we’ve been very happy with him.
In division two Lothian runs and I actually rode this horse at Michael Attwater’s a few months ago. I liked him and I believe he’s ready to start off.
Corvair did very well last year, he had a good winning streak, and I’m looking forward to riding him in the Betsafe Racing From Over 40 Countries Handicap on Friday. It looks a competitive race but he’ll have a good chance if he’s in the same form he was at the end of last season.
Capone has never run on the Flat in Britain before but he’s a hurdles winner for Charlie Mann so he obviously stays well. Hopefully that will be in his favour in the BG Racing Syndicates Handicap over 1m4f.
I haven’t ridden Fortune And Glory, who goes in the Richard Fahey Ebor Racing Club Handicap, for a while but I have ridden him in the past.
He got a few wins under his belt last year and the owner is a good supporter of Joe Tuite’s yard, so hopefully he’s ready and raring to go. Joe’s been doing plenty of work with them and they look great.
In the Betsafe Extra Place Race Handicap I ride The Lamplighter for George Baker and in the last race, the Betsafe Free Bet If 2nd Handicap, I’m on Angel Grey for Andrew.
She’s a small filly and tries very hard. The owner is fairly new to the yard and she won for me at Windsor. She’s straightforward and I’m sure she’ll run well.
More from Oisin Murphy
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