Oisin Murphy reflects on his latest week in the saddle before looking ahead to a strong book of rides at Newmarket's Future Champions meeting.
NEWMARKET SATURDAY RIDES
AMERICAN STAR – 1.10 Newmarket
He went up a lot in the handicap for winning at Newbury and this looks a tougher race. I’ve been lucky for Ed Walker and these owners, so hopefully he can defy the rise in the weights and go well.
BERKSHIRE REBEL – 1.45 Newmarket
I’m expecting this fellow to improve for the step up in trip in the Zetland Stakes. This will be his third run in quick succession so he’s got a tough task, but he seems like a hardy horse. Whatever happens on Saturday I’m looking forward to him next year.
IMPERIAL FIGHTER – 2.20 Newmarket
Coroebus will be very hard to beat in the Autumn Stakes but I like IMPERIAL FIGHTER. He should improve again for a mile and he’s a very tough and genuine horse. The ground with a little bit of ease will help him as well. The Acomb form looks good so we go there with a chance, but he’ll improve from two to three as well. He’s one of our nicer horses for next year.
BERKSHIRE SHADOW – 2.55 Newmarket
BERKSHIRE SHADOW goes for the Dewhurst and he’s another we hope will improve for going back up in trip. It was too sharp for him at York last time out and he wasn’t 100% there, either, he came home a very tired horse. He’s freshened up well, he has felt good in his work and I’m looking forward to getting back on him. He’s had a long season and he’s a miler for next year, but hopefully he’ll run a decent race.
BUZZ – 3.35 Newmarket
I’m excited about riding BUZZ in the Cesarewitch, I was booked for this horse a long time ago and he’s been trained for this race. He wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much. Willie Mullins has a strong hand and he’s done well in this race in the past, but I’ve got to be right there in the mix in the closest race we have, in terms of field size, on the Flat to the Grand National.
TENAYA CANYON – 4.10 Newmarket
She’s had a very good year after being placed particularly well, winning at Haydock and Doncaster amongst other good runs. This looks quite a competitive Listed race but she looks one of the fillies in it with a better chance.
KING VEGA – 4.45 Newmarket
Finally, KING VEGA in the Group 3 Darley Stakes. I rode him wrong at Goodwood – I shouldn’t have made the running – and he is a very good horse. He is a very good horse, I’ve always said it, and I just hope I get it right with him. I hope the ground dries out for him, he wants decent ground, and I’d say he’s one of my strongest rides of the meeting. I know I’ve talked up this horse a lot and he hasn’t done it on the track yet, but I retain every faith in him and he’ll be winning sooner rather than later.
Oasis incident could have been worse
OASIS GIFT got a real fright in the paddock at Salisbury last Thursday and while it was nasty for me these things happen and it could have been a lot worse.
He just spooked and took off and thankfully it was only my mouth and face that got hurt. I was lucky, if I’d missed the Arc and this weekend coming up I’d have been gutted, so I won’t complain.
I had 26 stitches in my face and it’s pretty sore, it’s healing slowly, but I’ve been wearing the mask in my races to try and keep it clean so hopefully it’s all healed up soon.
🚨 Breaking news: Champion jockey @oismurphy is receiving medical treatment after this dramatic incident in the paddock at Salisbury
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 30, 2021
Our best wishes to Oisin & we will bring you more news as we get it pic.twitter.com/jh7X01dLqi
Chrono so much better than Arc run
CHRONO GENESIS didn’t run up to her best in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last weekend.
Anyone that has seen the sectionals will know it was a very slow pace, but she relaxed super and travelled round nicely and I felt I was in the right place to win.
Unfortunately she got bogged down in the ground, it’s the first race in her life she hasn’t finished her race off and off a slow pace without pulling I expected her to hit the line. She didn’t and I put that solely down to the ground.
She’s better than that, what she achieved in Dubai was much better than what she showed at Longchamp and I’d expect her to bounce back.
At least I got a winner on the day thanks to ZELLIE in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.
She’s a star and I have to thank the Al Attiya family for allowing me to ride her. She gave me a super ride and to win one for Mr Fabre in a Group One was kind of a dream, so that was very fortunate.
Next year she’ll definitely stay 10 furlongs and she’ll train on, I really like her.
Kempton doubles keep title race pressure on
I had a couple of Kempton doubles back on the domestic scene this week to go 12 clear of William Buick in the title race with just over a week to go.
I’m trying hard and doing my best, hopefully that will be enough but I’m not riding as many favourites as I was a couple of weeks ago and the stables I ride for are having fewer runners, too.
You won’t find me taking anything for granted until it’s mathematically impossible for anyone to catch me.
