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Stone Of Destiny bids for more big handicap success

LOG-IN for FREE to read Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy's column ahead of Ayr Gold Cup day

By Oisin Murphy

Sporting Life Plus

Fri September 18, 2020 · 4y ago

Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy discusses a range of subjects in his latest blog as well as talking through an excellent book of rides on Ayr Gold Cup day on Saturday.

A weight off my mind

I suppose I am refreshed after my enforced week on the sidelines due to suspension, but I can’t say there were many positives.

It was galling missing all of those good races at the St Leger meeting and I took myself off to Italy for a few days to try and forget about it.

It’s not easy, though, and I ate too much. I went from 8st 11lb to 9st 2lb which might not sound a lot to you but it’s pretty fat for a jockey!

I was rather swollen, but I was back Saturday and I did a fair bit of running over the weekend to shift the Italian bulge. Thankfully, I was fine by Monday.

Nice to hit the 100 landmark

By Monday I was back in the saddle and back on the racecourse and I was delighted to get my 100th winner of the season aboard The Kodi Kid at Bath.

I wanted to get it over and done with and get straight back into the thick of the action.

I do tick off landmarks and it’s always nice to reach 100 for the season. I’m not far off 1000 winners for my career now and breaking that number would be great if I could do it in the next couple of months.

Fine run from Berkshire Rocco

I couldn’t stop myself from watching the big races with a grimace and the St Leger was a fabulous race with Galileo Chrome edging out Andrew’s Berkshire Rocco, who I know well.

It was a huge run from Berkshire Rocco in second, I’m sure there will be a queue of people wanting to buy him to go to Australia with and so forth.

He’s a really tough, staying type of horse and Andrea Atzeni, who rode him, really is the King of Doncaster, he got a fabulous tune out of him and his record there is incredible.

Tom Marquand celebrates Galileo Chrome's win in the Pertemps St Leger with Berkshire Rocco not far behind in second

Alcohol Free in great order

I galloped Alcohol Free on Wednesday and she’s in really good shape.

She was second in the Group Three Dick Poole Stakes last time and she’s probably going to go for something like the Rockfel or even the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes next.

I’ve got a high opinion of her and her work has been very good since Salisbury. I hope she can stay in that sort of form as it’s hard for those two-year-old fillies going into the autumn to keep in good shape.

At the moment, though, she’s in great nick. She was still a bit green at Salisbury and Rob (Hornby) didn’t beat her up, she wouldn’t have finished any closer if he had, she just didn’t really know what she’s been asked to do.

But she’s come on for that, you can see it in her work at home, she’s sharpened up for the experience. So much so, I wouldn’t be surprised if she took on Group One company at Newmarket next week.

Alcohol Free makes a winning start under Oisin Murphy

So sad to hear of Pat Smullen’s passing

Pat Smullen was a brilliant guy and I was very sad to hear the awful news that he’d passed away at the young age of 43 on Tuesday.

I used to see him racing all the time, I had him on Snapchat, but his closest friends would be Fran Berry, Jamie Spencer, Mark McStay and Declan McDonogh so I just feel desperately sad for his family and close friends.

I had tremendous respect for him, he was a top-class rider and I idolised him a fair bit as a child.

My Uncle Jim knew him very well as well and he actually sent me a photo that I put on my Instagram story of when they were together one night.

It’s a very hard thing to deal with. I suppose what was most incredible about him was that even when he was fighting his illness he was still there raising awareness and money for cancer research.

An incredible amount of money, as well, in €3million and that’s going to help an awful lot of people.

That’s a fine legacy from a fine gentleman who will be sorely missed.

Saturday rides

Recovery Run – 1.20 Ayr

I think his mark of 85 is fair ahead of the Microtech Group EBF Nursery. It’s obviously a competitive race with any number of connections feeling their horse is well-handicapped, too, but we do feel there’s upside to his rating and a mile at Ayr should be spot on for him.

I was happy with him at Sandown, the form has worked out really well, with the horse he pulled clear with, Lone Eagle, going on to win his next two. Hopefully Recovery Run will be bang there.

Fox Chairman – 1.55 Ayr

I’m delighted to get on Fox Chairman in the Listed Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup Stakes. I’ve been riding this horse in work for the last two years and he’s a gentleman.

I don’t see a lot of pace in the race, I think Andrea Atzeni and I will probably go forward and hopefully he can get his head in front as he’s been running well without winning.

King’s Lynn – 2.30 Ayr

He’s a very nice horse for the Queen in the QTS Ayr Silver Cup. He ran well behind Starman at Doncaster in a novice stakes last time out and that horse obviously went on to win a good race at York, so I can’t wait to get back on him. He had an injury at the end of last year but he’s come back really well and his work has been excellent.

The horse is very straightforward. He’s got a great attitude and he’s great to ride. He doesn’t pull, he doesn’t need cover, he’s a jockey’s dream. I don’t know whether the draw in six is a good or bad thing, but he has to have a chance off 94. And it would be fantastic to win a race for Her Majesty.

Quiet Assassin – 3.05 Ayr

Adrian Keatley runs her in the Group Three Scotty Brand Firth Of Clyde Stakes and she’s got plenty to find on ratings.

However, I’ve lots of respect for her trainer and this is a race that is wide open, big price winners have popped up in it before and it has the look of creating an upset once again.

She’s lightly-raced having had just two starts, so hopefully she can run a good race.

Stone Of Destiny – 3.40 Ayr

I’m delighted to get on the in-form Stone Of Destiny in the QTS Ayr Gold Cup following on from his win in the Portland at Doncaster last Saturday.

He needs a strong pace and he has to relax. We were very happy that he got his head in front on Town Moor, but he’s only won four from 27 starts so he’s hard to win with.

On Saturday he carries a 5lb penalty, but he’s a danger to all now he’s back in form and I like his stall in 19, there seems to be lots of pace around me.

He doesn’t take a lot out of himself and it’s easier for these sprinters to back up quickly. Indeed, he won at Ascot last August a week after running well in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

This is slightly different, but he’s run off higher ratings before and if he relaxes for me, which isn’t easy for him sometimes, then he has a chance of following up.

Zwayyan – 4.15 Ayr

Zwayyan has been working away well ahead of the Luxury Staycations At Western House Hotel Handicap.

He’s moving better than ever and he’ll enjoy a little bit of dig in the ground. He’s running off a mark he can be competitive off and we were happy with his last run at Kempton when he was fourth, he stayed on well enough in a good race.

I fear Brunch the most, as he’s a young horse that’s improving at a rate of knots.

Bronze River – 4.50 Ayr

Bronze River is my best chance of the day in the Brandinghub Signs & Print Handicap.

He’s the sole three-year-old getting the 7lb weight-for-age allowance and I love him stepping up to an extended 1m5f for the first time.

He can be very free at home, but in his races he’s been pretty good and has relaxed well. I’m drawn in one, I just hope he switches off and I get a good trip around as he has a super chance at the weights.

I respect Make My Day dropping back to 1m6f, but Bronze River has a very solid chance.

Harrison Point – 5.25 Ayr

Harrison Point has been in good form and goes for a hat-trick in the Download The Gribbens Taxi App Now Handicap that closes the card.

This is a competitive race, I respect Ascension for Roger Varian, I’d imagine he’ll go off favourite and be the one to beat.

Archie Watson and I have a good strike-rate together, though, and I’m pleased to be on this fellow, he’s a course and distance winner and a big, raw, horse, so hopefully he’s still improving.

Fivethousandtoone can star at Newbury

There’s some good action at Newbury on Saturday and the reason I’m on so many King Power horses up at Ayr is because Silvestre de Sousa has gone down to Berkshire to ride Fivethousandtoone in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.

He’s a very exciting horse. We were disappointed he didn’t win on debut, as we expected him to, but he put that right when winning at Newcastle and his rating of 92 does not do him justice given what we see from him at home.

He’s a powerful Frankel colt and this track and trip should suit him. Bahrain Pride, the horse that beat him on debut, is clearly respected after he won again at Ripon - which can be a tricky track for a two-year-old.

There are others, too, like Cairn Gorm, Line Of Departure, First Edition, Devilwala and Rhythm Master, who all have chances, it looks a very hot race.

It’s a strong renewal and Fivethousandtoone is one of the lowest-rated horses in it, but we’ve a very high opinion of him and I hope he can go and do the business.

Lazuli wins at Sandown earlier in the season

Earlier on the card Lazuli looks interesting in the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes.

He looked very good at Sandown earlier in the year and things didn’t go quite right for him at Deauville last month, so he looks really interesting after being freshened up.

This could be his day to shine. Equilateral needs a strong pace to run at, Ornate is a tough horse but he’s getting on a bit and the others, bar Tis Marvellous who is the danger, just don’t look good enough.

Hollie Doyle could be amongst the winners again, too, as Extra Elusive looks to have a standout chance in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup.

All of his rivals have various questions to answer but Extra Elusive is thriving, he’s formed a great partnership under Hollie and, even under a penalty, I’d expect them to continue their winning run.