Highest Ground pulls away from Waldkonig

Oisin Murphy: Highest ambition | Kameko fallout, Darain debut, York return

By Oisin Murphy

Horse Racing

Wed July 08, 2020 · 4y ago

Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy reflects on Kameko's Derby fourth, discusses exciting newcomer Darain and looks forward to York's return in his latest blog.

Relishing return to York

I love going to York and I always seem to have winners there, so it’s with great pleasure that I head to the Knavesmire for nine rides on Thursday.

The big one is Highest Ground in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

A son of Frankel who has won his last two starts, he looked very good at Haydock the other day, albeit in not the strongest of races, other than the second, Waldkonig, who will probably get to a very high level.

I’m thrilled Sir Michael Stoute has booked for me for his Dante horse and I can’t wait to ride him.

Highest Ground on his way to Haydock victory

I also ride Dubai Love for Saeed bin Suroor in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes and she’s been very consistent. She’s fit and well and this trip looks like it will suit.

It looks a good renewal with a few likely types in against her but I’ll be disappointed if she’s not in the mix.

End Zone is a horse we really liked last year and he’s a big, burly type of horse that you would think would definitely improve for the run in the opening Sky Vegas Handicap.

We’re hoping for a good showing on Thursday.

Purdey’s Gift’s a decent staying type of horse for Sheikh Juma in the New Sporting Life App Handicap.

A son of Camelot, he did okay last year but I thought he’d do very well with time, those horses really do improve and strengthen up so hopefully he’ll have a good season starting at York.

Furlong Factor runs in the Listed EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes and she won well at Chepstow last time out. Rod Millman is always good to me and tries to give me winners. They’re obviously on a black type mission and if she could finish in the first three everybody would be delighted.

Edinburgh Castle goes in the Sky Bet Thank You NHS Handicap. He’s a Sea The Stars horse of Jim Hay’s, we obviously teamed up for a winner on Monday night at Windsor with Herodotus.

Again this fellow falls into the category that we hope he’ll improve a lot with age, it’s a competitive race but he should run well.

Fox Premier runs in the Sky Bet Thank You Key Workers Handicap.

He was a little bit disappointing on his last start. I think if I can just get him to relax I can get him in the mix, I always thought he was going to be a very good horse but he hasn’t really reached the heights we once expected.

Kameko doing well post-Derby

The dust has settled on the Investec Derby now and I still feel the same as I did immediately after the race, which was that Kameko simply didn’t stay the mile and a half trip.

A mile into the race he felt like he was still going well, but when I went for him the response just wasn’t there and his usual turn of foot was missing.

The good news is he’s come out of the race fine, he’s been eating and sleeping well. You don’t come out of the Derby having had an easy race.

There are lots of races being mentioned for him at the moment but it’s all up in the air. He has plenty of options, but I retain absolute faith in him and I’m sure he can bounce back over a shorter trip.

Darain makes Newbury debut

I ride at Newbury on Wednesday night and the one that will be jumping out at you from the racecards is Darain in the novice stakes at 7.40.

He’s a £3.5million full brother to Too Darn Hot from an amazing family and it’s one his trainer John Gosden knows extremely well.

From what I’ve seen he’s a lovely horse. I’ve ridden him in work a few times, he’s been on the grass, and my feeling is he’s obviously going to be a little bit babyish, although he’s done enough work to run a nice race.

He looks pretty straightforward, he’ll be ridden wherever he’s comfortable and I’d imagine he’ll get a trip well in time. Unlike Too Darn Hot he looks more of a stayer, but he’s ready to start off now.

Too Darn Hot: His full brother Darain makes his debut at Newbury on Wednesday

One to watch out for at Newbury

Tom Collins could go well in the Oakley Horseboxes Handicap at 6.40.

He’s in a big field but he ran well on his last start where he was only beaten a head in a four-way photo at Doncaster and he runs off the same mark on Wednesday.

Threat up for the Cup

It’s a massive weekend and I’ve been booked to ride Threat for Richard Hannon and Cheveley Park in the Darley July Cup.

He felt like he’d retained all of his ability in the St James’s Palace Stakes and I’m sure he’ll appreciate dropping back in trip this Saturday.

We’ll go through his chance in more detail in my Friday column where I’ll look ahead to all of my Saturday rides.

Threat wins the Gimcrack at York

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