Oisin Murphy

Oisin Murphy has really come of age in the last two years and looks destined to compete for Group 1 races and Jockeys Championship titles for the next 20 years. The nephew of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Jim Culloty, Murphy grew up in Killarney, Ireland, and was a show rider before becoming a professional jockey in 2013.

He instantly put his name out there with a famous four-timer on Ayr Gold Cup day in September 2013 and enjoyed more success in Australia later that year under Danny O’Brien.

Murphy would win his first Group race with Hot Streak in the Temple Stakes in May 2014 and became champion apprentice later that year. It was 2016 when the Irishman was announced as retained rider for Qatar Racing, a move that would propel his career.

Although he had a slightly frustrating 2017 campaign, he did manage to land a Group 1 victory in Canada for Andrew Balding with Blond Me. In 2018, he enjoyed his best year to date, with Roaring Lion winning four Group 1 races including the Irish Champion Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Also, Lightning Spear landed the Sussex Stakes, Royal Marine took the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere and Benbatl was a two-time winner at the highest level in the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

With Roaring Lion retired to stud, Grade 1 horses have been harder to find in 2019 but did land his first of the season in the Falmouth Stakes on Veracious at Newmarket’s July meeting.

Lightning Spear (David Simcock)

Lightning Spear made his racecourse debut back in 2013 but didn’t develop into a top-class performer until 2016, when claiming the Goodwood Celebration Mile for Murphy. That would be his only victory in 2017, despite running several big races in Group 1s including the Sussex Stakes and Lockinge Stakes. Returning to his beloved Goodwood, he finally claimed that elusive Group 1 victory in 2018 when beating the likes of Expert Eye, Without Parole and Lord Glitters in the Sussex Stakes. He would run three more times before being retired to stud at the end of 2018.

Roaring Lion (John Gosden)

Roaring Lion was the top rated British two-year-old in 2017 after winning the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, but his 2018 campaign crowned him as one of the all-time greats. Either side of Classic defeats in the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby, he landed the Dante Stakes at York which was the first of several blistering performances. In his first step up against older horses, Roaring Lion under Murphy did enough to claim the Coral Eclipse at Sandown Park ahead of Guineas winner Saxon Warrior before claiming another Group 1 prize in the Juddmonte International, beating Poets Word.

Saxon Warrior would again play second fiddle to Roaring Lion in the Irish Champion Stakes before a fourth Group 1 win of the season came in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, despite running at a trip shorter than idea. The European Horse of the Year and Cartier Champion Three-year-old Colt claimed total prize money of over £2.7 million for Oisin Murphy and Qatar Racing.

Dashing Willoughby (3yo) - Andrew Balding

Dashing Willoughby claimed the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and will surely be sent to Doncaster for the St Leger in September. He struggled in a muddling race over 12 furlongs at the July meeting but will surely appreciate the stiffer stamina test in the Yorkshire Classic and must rate as one of Murphy’s best chances to break his duck in the British Classics.

Sparkle Roll (3yo) - John Gosden

This thoroughly unexposed three-year-old filly should have plenty more to offer for the Gosden team. Having impressed in novice events, she claimed a hot race at Sandown before disappointing in the Musidora Stakes at York. She returned with a good third place finish in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. With stamina confirmed over 12 furlongs, the British Champions’ Fillies and Mares’ Stakes could be an option for the latter half of 2019.

The Tin Man (7yo) - James Fanshawe

This veteran sprinter has been ridden by Oisin Murphy since September 2018 and could well claim a Group 1 prize by the end of the year. Having won the Haydock Sprint Cup last year, that will no doubt be the plan for The Tin Man before he heads to Ascot for British Champions’ Day in October. On his best, he would have every chance of another win at the highest level.

Telecaster (3yo) - Hughie Morrison

After two decent runs in novice company, Telecaster improved considerably in the Dante Stakes at York to take Group 2 honours. It hasn’t quite gone to plan since then for the Hughie Morrison-trained horse, having been well beaten in the Epsom Derby and again in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown behind Enable. He has since been given the rest of the year off, and if returning to his York form, will be a serious Group 1 contender in the early stages of his 2020 season.

Oisin Murphy’s career winnings have increased considerably in recent times, having racked up over £13.5 million in total prize money since January 2015, with £8.1 million of that in winning money. In addition to that, from just 10 rides in Ireland, Murphy has totalled over €815,000 in prize money.

Currently, Oisin Murphy has a whole host of trainers aiding him due to his partnership with Qatar Racing, including Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden, Archie Watson and Richard Hannon.

He is the stable jockey for Andrew Balding and has been since 2016, but his major victories have come for Qatar Racing including Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear. Murphy also has support of Godolphin with Benbatl having won Grade 1’s in UAE and Germany under Murphy while Royal Marine won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere on Arc Day in 2018.