Last year's champion jockey Oisin Murphy earned his second crown with 142 wins in 2020. William Buick closed to within nine wins, but could ultimately not make up the deficit at Newcastle on Friday. Murphy is currently at the Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland. The retained rider for Qatar Racing, Murphy booted home Kameko (Kitten's Joy) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in June.
“I'm incredibly proud to have won a second champion jockey title and I'm extremely thankful for the team around me that have enabled me to do so–my agent, manager, driver, form-man, and family,” Murphy told Great British Racing. “It's huge to win two jockeys' championships in two years and beyond my wildest dreams. I tried my absolute best to do so and thank you to everyone who has helped along the way.
“I'm particularly proud of my strike rate for Andrew Balding. Sheikh Fahad allowed me to go wherever I wanted to and for that I must thank him and all the team at Qatar Racing too.”
Cieren Fallon won his second consecutive champion apprentice jockey title. It was the first time an apprentice earned back-to-back titles in 32 years. Fallon's highlight was undoubtably Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in the G1 July Cup. Fallon is the retained second jockey for Qatar Racing.
“It's an amazing achievement for me, it is something I set out to do after the success of last year,” said Fallon. “I've been very lucky to have the people I have around me to help me achieve these goals–my jockey coach, nutritionist, a great boss in Sheikh Fahad, William and Maureen Haggas, my mum and dad.
“They are all the best at what they do, so I'm very lucky to be in the position. Winning the July Cup with Oxted is obviously the greatest highlight of my year and a memorable day.”
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